Die schönen Tage

I am a fan of Ardent and certainly of French cinema.

But this film is unforgivably bland and flat.

Now, OK, the French simply cannot make a film without adultery. I get it. It is apparently some French law. And usually a one with good results. But it is one of several utterly forced aspects and plot lines thrown into this slightly droll "Lifetime channel" "made-for-TV" quality film that make the entire experience seem artificial. It doesn't shock, excite, enlightening, add drama, sadness or happiness. It is just a has to be there because it is the only thing the writers could think of.

The rest of the film is predictable and cliché. No usual French subtleties, simply nothing at all of interest

A 60 year old woman has recently retired, is mourning the death of a close friend and is looking for meaning in her life. She is introduced to a 'seniors' club as a way of meeting people and participating in new activities. She initially shows little interest until the possibility of an affair with one of the organisers begins.

Nice idea for a screenplay, perhaps the screenplay was good, but the end product doesn't realise the potential. The film ultimately plays safe and succeeds only if it was aiming to be 'feel good'. Missed opportunities to become 'interesting' and 'unique' as well as 'bright'.

Some humorous moments but not enough for it to be a comedy. Some investigation of characters but not enough for it to be a drama.

BRIGHT DAYS AHEAD ( LES BEAUX JOURS ) 2013

Fanny Ardant is the star in this lightweight comedy of infidelity and reawakened passion of sensuality: It is a love story from the French cinema that graces our non-Gallic screens in a refreshment of elegance by the French actress.

'Les Beaux Jours' is an activity club for the 'seniors', and Fanny Ardant -who plays 'Caroline' -attends free classes with gift vouchers given to her as a present from her two daughters after Caroline takes early retirement as a dentist.

Caroline's initial attendance at the club is not successful as she is apprehensive and feels estranged from enjoying the fun of the class-room activities: Her best friend died five months earlier -and her early retirement was an unsavoury issue due to a bad working relationship with a former colleague.

It is only later at home when her husband complains of computer problems that Caroline will return the next day to attend a computer class for guidance to resolve the home issue of an internet connection: And here, with the attraction of a hypersexual tutor -that a romance will inflame into passion.

Fanny Ardant will glide through the film with a graceful command of confidence as an actress: The new romance will excite into an oblivion sense of freedom from the constraints of marriage and daytime routines of home life -it is like a teenage love affair of attraction; except that the 60 year old Caroline, played by our French actress -oozes command with experience of aged wisdom in a carefree freshness of living in the present: The film will reflect this idea throughout - and there is a lovely and sustained filming at the seaside beach with her grandchildren flying a colourful kite that is directed and willed only by the charm of the sea wind.

Eventually, the story of the new romance will want to uproot itself with desire to return home to foundation: The outcome is pleasantly rewarding to invigorate a renewal of life interest itself: There is a lovely film score, with a buzz of romantic music to accord to the background melody. It was filmed at the seaside port of Dunkirk, which adds to the film's attraction. I recommend the film for light entertainment in reminiscence of a nagging feeling of youthful past: But I also highly recommend Fanny Ardant who is a charming actress of the French cinema! Also stars, Patrick Chesnais as her husband, and Laurent Lafitte as her lover: A beautiful film!

I'm a longtime fan of Ardant from way back when I first saw her in a French TV "feuilleton" (Les Dames de la Cote). I wish she'd had a better script here. There were too many clichés and stereotypes. For me the story felt as flat as her hair color. Perhaps the bad blonde was meant to age her. She's much better and sexier as a brunette. In my opinion the best performance was by Patrick Chesnais as her husband. He was pitch perfect. There was a lot of potential for a more interesting film and it failed. But then again I haven't read the source material (book) so perhaps there just wasn't enough there to begin with. I'm glad that I saw it, but was disappointed despite the fact that it's always good to see Fanny.

I did not click with this movie or this movie did not click with me. As much as I like French movies, this one disappointed me. The performances were good,Fanny Ardant is beautiful, but...nothing new in here and everything is so predictable. In my opinion, in this film was no connection on any level (physical or emotional) between two main characters . At least I did not notice. Fanny Ardant' character, so self- conscious of her age, so insecure, so needy of assurances or clarifications of what is next, of knowing how she is going to be "dropped", looked rather pathetic and out of place. It also did not show why the young man was attracted to her in the first place. It is usually class and self-assurance that attracts younger men to older women; this movie is silent about it. Love scenes were rather dismal. Overall, the film did not convey what the book it was based on might have done. I did not read the book.