Après vous...

In Pierre Salvadori's film 'Aprez Vouz', Daniel Autiel's character plays a man whose life is ruined after a would-be suicide, whose life he saves, subsequently becomes dependent on him. Some of the comedy is painful, and most of it is stupid, but it's done with a certain underhand style, and the development of the plot, while not exactly plausible, moves the story onwards in unexpected directions. It drags in places, but it's hard to avoid smiling in others - overall, it's hardly a masterpiece of French cinema, but it is a gentle, quirky piece, endowed with a refreshing air of innocence (such as rarely circulates in Hollywood comedy).

This has to be, no contest, the best restaurant-based movie since Claude Sautet persuaded Yves Montand and Jacques Villeret to don monkey suits for 'Garcon'. They get the mix just right between humor and pathos and although it's based on a dubious premise for the 21st century - maitre d' Auteuil spots Garcia trying to top himself, intervenes and then, against all the odds of cynicism, feels obliged to 'adopt' him and straighten out his life - it still works. This straightening out includes fixing up klux Garcia with a job as sommelier at Auteuil's restaurant which means in turn that Garcia must compete in an interview/audition with people who have actually worked as sommeliers. Given that Garcia knows as much about wine as Ludivine Sagnier knows about acting with her clothes on the audition is a hoot, with Auteuil, sitting in, natch, on the interview and attempting to coach Garcia surreptitiously. The main reason that Garcia was interested in running out of breath was the fact that he'd been dumped by a girl friend and nothing will do but that Auteuil must intervene once more and attempt to win back the ex-girl friend, who is now involved with someone else. Not unnaturally, Auteuil begins to fall in love with said girl friend which is not exactly hard given that she is played by Sandrine Kiberlain, a great actress with an elusive beauty which is hard to classify. She doesn't do chocolate-box like Audrey Tautou, she doesn't do chic like Catherine Deneuve, she doesn't do warmth like Isabelle Huppert and Fanny Ardant and she most certainly doesn't do slut like Ludivine Sagnier, whatever she does she does it to a fare-thee-well and if you don't believe me ask that swine Vincent Lindon, who married her before I could get there first (just kidding, Vince, you're a great actor yourself if anybody asks you but WHY did you have to take her off the market?). This complication gives the movie an extra fillip, a touch of the Cyrano de Bergeracs, with Auteuil pressing a claim for a guy who is now, to all intents and purposes, a rival, although unlike Cyrano, who has been in love with Roxanne all his life and is himself unattached, Auteuil is - or was - in a happy relationship until these life-changing events. All in all a very fine movie worth a couple of hours of anyone's time provided they are motivated by people and the Human Condition and not Matrix-type fx. 9/10

Although this film has a few funny moments, the general performance is flabby and leaves you frustrated and expecting better. There are two many scenes that are drawn out, and where you are waiting for the inevitable to happen but there it takes too long to arrive. The goods bits are the audition of José Garcia for the job in the restaurant, when Daniel Auteil takes to the booze and some of the scenes where they are prowling around Blanche's house. The actors are all pleasant to watch, even the lady restaurant owner, and this to some extent saves the film but I came away from it with an overall feeling of frustration at having sat through a relatively long period to get so few laughs. I can't see this film having ANY success outside France and even here, from what I can gather by asking around, it doesn't appear to have been a major success. Pity, because the makings of something better are definitely there and the plot could have been developed with further qui-pro-quo's to make it spicier !

I saw this at the Phoenix Film Festival, almost by accident. My first choice for the time slot was full, and this would end in time to see my next screening, so I grabbed a seat as the lights went down.

A very pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed this movie, walking into it with out the slightest idea what it was about.

While the premise may not have been 100% original (man helps man get back the girl... but falls for her himself), I thought it was very well done. We should all wish to have friends as dedicated as Antoine, and we can all relate to Louis at some point in our lives.

While the movie may not have been hysterical, I found myself smiling or laughing most of the time. The end result wasn't completely unexpected, yet how they got there was a surprise to me, with the last gag being a nice touch.

Definitely recommend this film. Not one you'll discus what it means for hours, but one you should enjoy while you are there.

I went to the film because I had just come back from a first-time trip to Paris and I could translate what Apres Vous meant. Well, what a wonderful experience! Refreshing, surprising, beautifully underplayed humor, a lovely farce as only the French can do. Reminds me of the old Comedy of Manners from Sheridan's time. Well written, well directed and well acted. Congratulations. And that soundtrack "Allo Papa Tango Charly" is just stuck in my head - I found it's a Mort Schuman tune from 1977, but can't pick up the soundtrack anywhere, even on the official site! Anyone got access to it? I can more or less translate the lyrics from my school days, but would like to come across a literal translation if anyone has it.

I think I might have to go again, just for the song! The food shown at Chez Jean's reminded me so much of the lovely food we had every day in Paris.

A very welcome afternoon at the Cinema.

Jack.