Review of Bright Days Ahead

This fine film is yet another case of Translator Talentless; the original French title is clear and unambiguous, Les Beaux Jours, literally The Good Days; nowhere is there any mention of the future, in fact if anything the title implies Golden Days in the past yet the translators have seen fit to render it Bright Days Ahead. Heigh Ho. Marion Vernoux is one of literally dozens of outstanding French female directors and her Rien a faire is one of the finest French films of recent years. In some ways there are echoes of Rien a faire here, both chronicle love affairs doomed to disaster, in Rien a faire the gulf was one of Class whilst in Les Beaux Jours the gulf is one of age. There are differences of course, and when I was lucky enough to meet Marion Vernoux at the London screening last night I made the point that Valerie Bruni Tedeschi (the star of Rien a faire) exudes vulnerability in heartbreaking quantities, Fanny Ardant (star of Les Beaux Jours) is much stronger emotionally. Patrick Chesnais is excellent as Ardant's husband and an ensemble cast complement the principals to a tee. A fine movie and one I will watch again and buy on DVD.