3 stars (out of 5)
Director: Pierre Salvadori
Cast: Audrey Tautou, Nathalie Baye, Sami Bouajila, Stephanie Lagarde, Judith Chemla
Rating: (M)
In a week when the country was fixated on France, or rather the threat of succumbing to our great rugby nemesis, film distributors played their part. Among at least half a dozen films either shot in France or referencing Gallic culture is Beautiful Lies, an innocuous little farce that reunites actress Audrey Tautou with director Pierre Salvadori.
After the runaway success of the quirky Amelie, Tautou will always be judged in light of that breakout role. So it can be misleading when the publicity machine behind Beautiful Lies starts comparing the two films. Beautiful Lies is a nice film, but it's comparable with any lightweight French charade.
Tautou is Emilie, the owner of a hairdressing salon in the south of France. Concerned for the welfare of her depressed mother Maddy (Nathalie Baye), Tautou sends her an anonymous love letter. Maddy takes the bait and sets about finding the author of the letter.
Sounds simple enough, but writer/director Salvadori has a real pedigree with plots built on multifaceted misunderstandings and half-truths. Enter salon handyman Jean (Sami Bouajila), who unwittingly finds himself trapped between mother and daughter.
Aside from a few well-constructed comedic set-ups, the plot is too transparent to disguise anything seriously amusing. Tautou's Emilie is simply too narcissistic for the audience to really care for her and with an ending that feels forced, Beautiful Lies will coax a few smiles, but not a lot more.
Best thing: Nathalie Baye's hilarious approximation of a cougar on the prowl.
Worst thing: The fixation with Tautou's eyes. Sure, they are exquisite but not worthy of so many lingering close-ups.
See it with: A date.
- Mark Orton
