Metacritic-Rezensionen

Berri is very good at bringing out his characters' emotional contradictions so that we seem to be discovering them right along with Jacques and Laura.

Possession, humiliation, jealousy, revelation . . . they're all painted in light, swift strokes by the veteran director and his two stars.

Understated, quietly amusing, and steadily paced.

Even if the film is only moderately enjoyable, it can create a sort of exotic escapism.

Fits squarely into a Gallic tradition of wistful, worldly-wise comedies that reflect on the weakness of the flesh.

By the end, you may marvel at the film's worldly-wise wink of maturity. You may also think, Is that all?

The film is extremely well-acted, and Berri is very good at demonstrating why the relationship is doomed.

It may be an old story, but Berri draws fresh poignancy from this December-May romance by identifying so empathetically with Jacques.

The effect is a haunting vision of neediness, age and rejection.

Although meant as a light comedy-drama in which both characters are sympathetic, The Housekeeper instead proves irritating.