I watch a lot of French movies, as they are often brilliant. I knew Nicole Garcia's work from her superb 'Place Vendome', so I had been looking forward to seeing this one.
Well, to say the least I wasn't disappointed. Everything about this movie is wonderful; the plot is original and interesting, the location is stunning, not a scene is wasted, the characters are complex and deep (played superbly by sexy leads, it must be added). The very opposite of lazy film-making you see so often, with two-dimensional sketches instead of fully-fleshed individuals; here people have contrasting feelings, complex issues, dreams, and deal with life's problems in their own way. For the two protagonists (he, a temporary teacher, she a jobbing waitress / would-be professional caterer, laden with debt and a young son she'd like to regain custody of; both are drifters, troubled souls), finding each other proves cathartic and transformative - and liberating. The finale is sure to satisfy everyone and left me feeling euphoric for several days. Sometimes, when life seems really hard and problems insurmountable, you just get it right, everything falls into place and you feel you can breathe and taste freedom. And beauty. This is the overwhelming feeling I was left with at the end of this superb movie, which I can't wait to see again and cherish for years. Watch it - it would be impossible to be disappointed by it.