Review of The French Minister

I can think - as, I am sure, can you - of at least a dozen French film directors I would check out if I was in the mood for satire/comedy before getting round to Bertrand Tavernier. Nevertheless that is what he serves up here in the twilight of a career devoted to more dramatic fare. People like Tavernier and his principal players - Thierry Thermitte, Niels Arestrup - don't, of course, do mediocre so we are speaking of an entertaining evening even if your knowledge of French politics is non- existent (although, purely by coincidence, the presence of Julie Gayet in a major supporting role is unlikely to harm its chances at the box office and it's really refreshing to see a young French actor - in this case Rafael Personnaz - who is the complete antitheses of the current crop that embraces Romain Duris, Gal Ulliel, Benoit Magimal, who alternate between sullen and arrogant, each firmly convinced he is God's gift. In short whilst not vintage Tavernier it is far from chopped liver.