La Femme du Diplomate

It's a love story. It's a coming of age story. It's a class-of- cultures story. But to call "5 to 7" a "romantic comedy" is to evoke images of all sorts of rom-com clichés that this film does its best to avoid. There were moments when I expected the movie to go in a predictable direction, and it didn't. I thought this was going to be a movie about a young, sheltered writer who could never achieve success until he stopped writing and started living -- but, while this played some part, it wasn't exactly that, either.

Best of all, I adored every character in this movie. There are no villains. The only villain is life -- the inherent complications in good people's lives that, try as you might, you can't dodge. The two principals, Anton Yelchin and Bérénice Marlohe, were perfect. Frank Langella was hilarious; Glenn Close touching. And the sprinkling of real-life people into the story was handled exactly right.

It's a shame that this movie has had such a limited release. It is truly a wonderful film.

This is one of those small gems of a film which is best viewed knowing nothing or very little about its details. The acting by all is good; Frank Langella, Glenn Close and the main French actress are the standouts. The story is sweet, if a tad implausible, but then all good love stories must have an element of implausibility to capture our imagination. Despite what other critics have written, I thought Anton Yelchin was wonderful. He is awkward, skinny yet confident -- his style is endearing and believable.

This is an unconventional, small film which took me by surprise. Well worth the watch.

I will admit that the film had me in the first few seconds. That it was no accident made it even more appreciated. That it fulfilled its promise by the end left me thinking, smiling and feeling good. A lot of care, love and thought had gone into making a story about likable people who are complex characters. Please, give me more. The script, the acting, the camera work and the perfect pace, made it all a beautiful pastiche of quiet and quality film-making. Yes please, give me more. But it would be helpful if these gems are not hidden away from the public. Thank God for Netflix. I've searched for some information on the film after watching it and saw that this was a debut for Victor Levin as a director. I am looking forward to more.

5 to 7 is a smart, endearing, and entertaining film, well interpreted and, while in the course of deftly playing off cultural stereotypes, resonantly manifesting significant character development.

The plot revolves around a romance with repercussions that demonstrate a significant gap between American and French social mores. That very gap becomes the stage for the film's comic zone, where the protagonist and his parents manifest the angst that generates its constant chuckles and a few really good belly-laughs.

The film fits squarely into the Uptown New York awkwardness-generates-witty-repartee pattern that has been so well established by Woody Allen and followed by Whit Stillman. Well crafted dialogue delivered convincingly.

Anton Yelchin turns in a compelling performance as the protagonist, Brian. He interprets a highly endearing character: sensitive, intelligent, thoughtful, driven and respectful. He and each of the principle characters display commendable characteristics that make them all highly likable.

Bérénice Marlohe glows with exuberant kindness and empathy. Lambert Wilson, expertly portraying that which Americans find both typical and impenetrable of the (particularly aristocratic) French, reveals therein universally-recognizable and enviable grace and integrity. The audience at the Miami Jewish Film Festival howled with laughter as Glenn Close and Frank Langella, playing Brian's parents, masterfully interpreted the Jewish martyr-mother and stubborn father, respectively.

Victor Levin's directorial sensitivity enticed each of these actors to interpret stereotypic portrayals in a loving manner, to great comic and dramatic effect. Levin walks the line perfectly without offense. The characters are not caricatures: they are quintessential and highly endearing and human incorporations of their representative communities.

As the plot unfolds, Brian becomes a study in character development. He learns, on all planes, the value of dedication, sacrifice, and a good underlying moral compass. The story is accessible and compelling. It speaks to serendipity and the extent to which life is a sum of our experiences, most markedly seen in relationships. I found a very resonant message that these relationships are best savored with sensitivity to their context and they always be remembered with sweetness. Ain't that the truth!

Without a doubt, BM makes the best muse any man could dream up. And yes, it is completely a rom-com fairytale... but a very well written, acted, and produced one as far as the genre goes. As implausible as it all actually is.. it has an irresistibility about it that draws you in, and even with a bit of awkwardness just past the middle of the film, it recovers and dishes out a reasonable ending. Berenice Marlohe subtly fills the screen with her beauty and charm (as casting choice, she works dead-on.. not totally sold on him). Looking at some of her images on bing she has the power to overwhelm the lens, but here in this movie, it's downplayed, and the production benefits. This is a well thought out and well made little film, and in a field that usually includes mostly stuff bordering on unwatchable, it's refreshing to find one might be worth watching again sometime.