Riviera

The story follows a beautiful young go-go dancer, her cleaning lady mother who has reached middle age and whose loneliness is apparent, and a lonesome, wealthy business man who becomes infatuated with the daughter. The differences between the mother and daughter are apparent from the start and the film does well to contrast their lives, along with portraying the mother as not only loving but also envious of her daughter's lifestyle. The ending I have mixed feelings about, although the more I think about it the more it seems to fit with the tone of the film. The cinematography was gorgeous, best represented during a scene of the daughter and her boyfriend freewheeling down the French Riviera sun-drenched roads where no dialogue is spoken but the close-ups and setting sun create an evocative portrait of passing youth. This was definitely my favorite film of 2005 and I'm glad I had the chance to see it since such obscure films are hard to come by for me.