Os Belos Dias

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.

(37%) A typically French drama looking at an adulterous relationship between a recently retired dentist and her quite a lot younger computer teacher boyfriend. There's plenty of French realism here that's sort of like what a TV soap opera would be like if they were not so poorly made. While the plot is hugely simplistic to the point in which this could have been a 30 minute short and still had the exact same sort of impact. But the performances are decent enough, and there's not a huge amount of romantic movies out there about people in and out of love at the later stages of life. Maybe worth a look for French cinema fans, but I'm certainly never going to watch it again.

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!

"Bright Days Ahead" is an odd sort of film for me to review. On one hand, I adore foreign films--particularly French ones. But, on the other, I am hopelessly conservative when it comes to marriage and relationships. I am happy I married my first and only love...even after nearly 30 years. Because of this, some of the themes in the film don't resonate with me at all...though I will still admit that I thought the film was well made and worth a look.

Caroline (Fanny Ardant) is going through a major transition in her life. Her best friend recently died and Caroline has just retired from her dental practice. Figuring out what to do and who she wants to be is the subject of this unusual film about aging. When the film begins, she's going to a local senior center to take some classes...hoping that something will pique her interest. However, her first several attempts are not particularly satisfying and she's very tentative. But, in the process, she ends up finding something she did enjoy...another man. And, he's a much younger and handsome man. While this isn't usually a serious problem, Caroline is married and having an affair could ruin her marriage or bring on other unforeseen consequences. Not surprisingly, she eventually does have an affair--though the consequences on her and her marriage are probably not what you might expect.

I liked some aspects of a film quite a bit. As a retired guy, I can relate to how difficult it might be making some huge life changes. In my case, it worked out well--but it IS a major change and is a bit like a loss. The old you is dead and you need to create a new you. I also appreciate that the film shows a 60-something woman as a very sexual and sensual being. Too often, films seem to be giving us the message that sex and love pretty much end by middle age. While this isn't overtly said in films, think about how often movies, particularly big-budget Hollywood films, have older folks in sexual relationships--unless it is perhaps a comedy. And, how many show these older people as vibrant, real and sexy? Well, "Bright Days Ahead" does...and this is something I really appreciated.

On the other hand, as I mentioned above, am very traditional. Because of this, the notion that affairs are okay or even good is something that troubled me--especially since I have known folks who were seriously harmed by their partner cheating on them. I would have enjoyed it more had the film shown these negative consequences or had Caroline been single. Instead, the film left me feeling uncomfortable...and why I cannot recommend it without some reservations.

Setting aside my misgivings for a moment, I cannot ignore that the film is well made and interesting. The acting is quite nice and the film does make you think. Worth seeing...just don't believe in its message too much--especially since people so often get hurt.

The french like to depict in most of their films. their favorite lifestyle which is usually middle to upper class. Sitting around a table drinking wine, eating food and pondering about politics and relationships. A bit later we will see some passionate sex and the story start to unfold, if the characters are on their 20's it has political overtones, if the characters are in their mid 30's it is about the coming of age, in this film is about the taboo of having an affair with a much younger partner and the predicament it accompanies such a decision.Nicely photographed, uplifting location near the sea can not to save this clichéd and bland film.It seems to me that a lot of french films suffer from trying to RE-invent love, which is fine but it becomes to be predictable and boring.