Lighthearted but forgettable

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Barry C Chung
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Barry C Chung |
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Directed by brothers David and Stephane Foenkinos, French film La Delicatesse is a dramedy in every sense of the word.

After meeting at a cafe, Nathalie (Audrey Tautou) and Francois (Pio Marmai) engage in a speed romance that leads to a happy marriage. Then one day Francois is fatally struck by a car. Voila drama.

Freshly widowed Nathalie, though sad, moves on with her life. She discards everything that reminds her of her late husband.

Three years later she holds a top position at a company run by her smitten boss Charles (Bruno Todeschini). Nathalie, however, begins to fall for another pursuer, her quirky Swedish co-worker Markus (Francois Damiens).

If Tautou symbolises elegance, Damiens is clearly the film's clown. His brutish body, goofy behaviour and rugged features are a humorous foil to the delicate and graceful Tautou.

Every good plot needs conflict for characters to overcome, but La Delicatesse provides little of that. Nathalie and Markus' relationship develops gradually, but is on a sure footing. The jealous boss poses no barrier, nor do friends who voice doubts on their coupledom, so the pair just plough through to romance.

La Delicatesse is whimsical, breezy and forgettable. There's a steady stream of laughs - there's your comedy - to get you to the final credits. For what it is - a dramedy - it succeeds. Just don't expect anything more.

YP Rating: 3/5



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