Les gens qui s'aiment

It is hard to find the delicate balance necessary for a lasting working relationship between individual freedom of spirit, and the emotional commitment inherent in a healthy love affair. PEOPLE WHO LOVE EACH OTHER (Les Gens qui s'aiment) illustrates how difficult it is to achieve this delicate balance through several characters, mainly following Angie (J. Bisset) and Jean Francois' (R.Berry) chronic love affair, and that of Angie's younger daughter, and on and off again boyfriend (B. Putzulu). Using the same theme that has permeated his illustrious filmography, writer/director Jean-Charles Tacchella (COUSIN, COUSINE) is back in form with this new dramatic comedy premiered at the Miami Int'l Film Festival this evening. Tacchella, who twice before premiered a film at the Miami Festival, revealed the film was set to be released in France in three or four months. Tacchella's script and direction are wonderful, as is the ensemble cast including Bisset, Berry and the ubiquitous Bruno Putzulu (of the Comedie Francaise) who just last week won (on his second nomination) the Cesar (French Academy Award) for Most Promising Young Actor.

If you have a thing for French relationship dramas, this seemingly forgotten title from 1999 is worth a look.

The plot is simple, revolving around two on-off couples, one older, one younger, who share a family connection.

While not a masterpiece, it deserves much higher than the very low rating it has one here - I am not sure why it is so low. Yes, its style is a bit quirky - it is acted out a bit like a stage play in a movie's clothing, but there is nothing wrong with that. And of course with a very 1990s ambience around the whole thing.

Worth an hour and half of your time on a Tuesday evening.