Odette Toulemonde (2006)

Note Générale:

6,1/10   

Réalisateur:

Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt

Scénariste:

Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt (written by)

Date de sortie:

7 février 2007 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedie | Drame

Plot Keywords:

Writer | Beach House | Department Store | Fan | Happiness

Récompenses:

1 nomination

Avis des utilisateurs:

Delightful feelgood escapism

Ensemble

Catherine Frot	...	Odette Toulemonde
Albert Dupontel	...	Balthazar Balsan
Jacques Weber	...	Olaf Pims
Alain Doutey	...	L'éditeur
Camille Japy	...	Nadine
Fabrice Murgia	...	Rudy
Nina Drecq	...	Sue Helen
Jacqueline Bir	...	La dame sèche
Laurence d'Amelio	...	Isabelle Balsan
Julien Frison	...	François
Erik Burke	...	Filip
Aïssatou Diop	...	Florence
Nicolas Buysse	...	Polo
Bruno Metzger	...	Jésus
Cindy Besson	...	La cliente battue

Durée:

100 min

Pays:

France | Belgium

Langue:

Français

Couleur:

Couleur

Rapport de forme:

2,35 : 1

Classification:

Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Netherlands:AL | Germany:6 | Greece:K | Argentina:Atp

Lieux de tournage:

Belgium

Société:

Bel Ombre Films

Delightful feelgood escapism

In some ways a remake of Amelie, in others very different indeed, with a layer of fantasy added to the surrealism of the earlier movie, and a Dennis Potter tendency to break into song at the drop of a hat, or even a feather. In Odette's case it is the songs of Josephine Baker which inspire her. Unlike Amelie, Odette is no longer young, but a widowed middle aged mother of two late teens, who struggles to keep her head above water. She is in no way chic, in fact quite the reverse, with a serious taste for all things kitsch. She is not from Montmartre, not even Parisienne, but a resident of Charleroi, a Belgian city south of Brussels famous only for its heavy industries of coal and steel. Style points seriously lacking in her life, and escapism into trashy fiction is what keeps her going.

Then when she least expects it, her life changes, and to tell any more would be a spoiler. Cynics amongst us may hate it, but the journey she travels as a result is reaffirming of optimism in life, and tells a story that wealth and fame are illusory bubbles, and that those who chase them are in for a surprise when they burst.

Watching it I was reminded of Adrian Henri's beautiful little poem, with the line "Love is a fan club with only two fans". Watch it.