This film has been trashed by Film de France's tame ego-tripping resident reviewer which is in itself reason to take it seriously. Jean Becker does not need me or anyone else to defend him, his films, like those of his equally distinguished father, Jacques, speak for themselves. Whilst it's true he has turned out a string of pastoral, sentimental, feel-good movies he is by no means a one-trick pony as he demonstrated in some of his earlier work and he does so again here. He displays the lightest of touch in his misdirection - a very early scene features the protagonist in a restaurant with a woman not his wife who presents him with a vintage wine in honour of his 42nd birthday and seconds later is insistent that he tell his wife. This scene, coupled with his subsequent behaviour, alienating an important client at the advertising agency he co-owns and then quitting, criticising birthday gifts made with loving care by his children, insulting the friends who come to celebrate his birthday and walking out on his wife all scream mid-life crisis. As we discover in the last reel it is anything but. Albert Dupontel carries the film superbly, this is a highly versatile actor who was equally convincing as an unhappy concert pianist in Fauteuils d'Orchestre and a ruthless assassin in Le proie and despite what the cynic at Films de France says the supporting cast are equally fine. A solid eight out of ten.
Review of Love Me No More
