Film review - 'Tatie Danielle' By DUANE BYRGELittle old ladies have usually gotten a bum rap in the movies, stereotyped as loveable, quirky and good-hearted. The lead character in ''Tatie Danielle'' (Aunt Danielle) has none of those qualities. She's an irascible, manipulative old coot and, accordingly, a breath of fresh air on the screen. Black comedy connoisseurs who fondly remember ''Where's Poppa?'' and ''Throw Mama From the Train'' will delight in ''Tatie Danielle,'' both for its
One doesn't have to have a Ph.D. in geriatric behavior to acknowledge that the elderly, like small children, have a natural power base for obnoxious behavior, and that kind and considerate people often indulge them, dismissing their most unsavory antics as a side-effect of their age. In certain instances, including this story, such latitude is perceived by the elderly person as a form of condescension, and, ultimately, as a type of personal rejection.
In this spry and vital story, Tsilla Chelton stars as Danielle, a chronically depressed 82-year-old widow who longs for death; at least it will reunite her with her late husband (who died more than 50 years ago on Armistice Day) whose portrait she commiserates with in extended, paranoidal monologues. Content only when gorging upon sweets (forbidden by her doctor) and sneaking peeks at TV soaps, the old woman tyrannizes all who care for her, most prominently a devoted housekeeper (Neige Dolsky), a grand nephew (Eric Prat) and his obsequious wife (Catherine Jacob). She also gets her jollies from annoying strangers, kicking household pets and disdaining authority figures -- in short, as W.C. Fields would concur, she's not all bad.
Capturing both the elderly woman's mean-spirited nature as well as her sense of abandonment, screenwriter Florence Quentin has fleshed out a splendidly entertaining yet disturbing story. While the scenario seems a tad bloated with repetitions of the aged Danielle's most-abrasive behavior, director Etienne Chatiliez has honed a remarkably rounded human portrait in this spare and feisty movie.
The performances all shine, especially Chelton as the autocratic aunt. It's a straight-to-the-marrow performance, and Chelton maintains a hard integrity throughout, never sugar-coating her portrayal of the rancorous Danielle with false endearment or cutesy theatrics.
As the old woman's well-meaning but ultimately off-putting familial caretakers, Eric Prat and Mathieu Foulon are perfect -- they are the personification of good intentions gone awry. Isabelle Nanty's performance as a spunky young woman who calls the old lady's bluff is terrific. Nanty deftly shows her independent character's inner need to be loved, as well as her winning take-no-guff attitude.
Technical contributions are excellent. Director of photography Philippe Welt's crisp compositions and composer Gabriel Yared's crosscurrent woodwinds eloquently convey the contradictory human needs on display here.
TATIE DANIELLE
Prestige
A Film by Etienne Chatiliez
Producer Charles Gassot
Director Etienne Chatiliez
Screenwriter Florence Quentin
Line producer Volker Lemke
Director of photographyPhilippe Welt
Production designerGeoffroy Larcher
MusicGabriel Yared
EditorCatherine Renault
Costume designer Elisabeth Tavernier
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Tatie DanielleTsilla Chelton
Catherine Billard Catherine Jacob
Sandrine Isabelle Nanty
Odile Neige Dolsky
Jean-Pierre Billard Laurence Fevrier
Madamde Lafosse Virginie Pradal
Jean-Marie Billard Mathieu Foulon
Running time -- 110 minutes
No MPAA rating
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
In this spry and vital story, Tsilla Chelton stars as Danielle, a chronically depressed 82-year-old widow who longs for death; at least it will reunite her with her late husband (who died more than 50 years ago on Armistice Day) whose portrait she commiserates with in extended, paranoidal monologues. Content only when gorging upon sweets (forbidden by her doctor) and sneaking peeks at TV soaps, the old woman tyrannizes all who care for her, most prominently a devoted housekeeper (Neige Dolsky), a grand nephew (Eric Prat) and his obsequious wife (Catherine Jacob). She also gets her jollies from annoying strangers, kicking household pets and disdaining authority figures -- in short, as W.C. Fields would concur, she's not all bad.
Capturing both the elderly woman's mean-spirited nature as well as her sense of abandonment, screenwriter Florence Quentin has fleshed out a splendidly entertaining yet disturbing story. While the scenario seems a tad bloated with repetitions of the aged Danielle's most-abrasive behavior, director Etienne Chatiliez has honed a remarkably rounded human portrait in this spare and feisty movie.
The performances all shine, especially Chelton as the autocratic aunt. It's a straight-to-the-marrow performance, and Chelton maintains a hard integrity throughout, never sugar-coating her portrayal of the rancorous Danielle with false endearment or cutesy theatrics.
As the old woman's well-meaning but ultimately off-putting familial caretakers, Eric Prat and Mathieu Foulon are perfect -- they are the personification of good intentions gone awry. Isabelle Nanty's performance as a spunky young woman who calls the old lady's bluff is terrific. Nanty deftly shows her independent character's inner need to be loved, as well as her winning take-no-guff attitude.
Technical contributions are excellent. Director of photography Philippe Welt's crisp compositions and composer Gabriel Yared's crosscurrent woodwinds eloquently convey the contradictory human needs on display here.
TATIE DANIELLE
Prestige
A Film by Etienne Chatiliez
Producer Charles Gassot
Director Etienne Chatiliez
Screenwriter Florence Quentin
Line producer Volker Lemke
Director of photographyPhilippe Welt
Production designerGeoffroy Larcher
MusicGabriel Yared
EditorCatherine Renault
Costume designer Elisabeth Tavernier
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Tatie DanielleTsilla Chelton
Catherine Billard Catherine Jacob
Sandrine Isabelle Nanty
Odile Neige Dolsky
Jean-Pierre Billard Laurence Fevrier
Madamde Lafosse Virginie Pradal
Jean-Marie Billard Mathieu Foulon
Running time -- 110 minutes
No MPAA rating
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 6/23/1991
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Film review - 'Tatie Danielle'
Little old ladies have usually gotten a bum rap in the movies, stereotyped as loveable, quirky and good-hearted. The lead character in ''Tatie Danielle'' (Aunt Danielle) has none of those qualities. She's an irascible, manipulative old coot and, accordingly, a breath of fresh air on the screen. Black comedy connoisseurs who fondly remember ''Where's Poppa?'' and ''Throw Mama From the Train'' will delight in ''Tatie Danielle, '' both for its dark humor and for its perceptive slant on the debilitating effects of aging.
One doesn't have to have a Ph.D. in geriatric behavior to acknowledge that the elderly, like small children, have a natural power base for obnoxious behavior, and that kind and considerate people often indulge them, dismissing their most unsavory antics as a side-effect of their age. In certain instances, including this story, such latitude is perceived by the elderly person as a form of condescension, and, ultimately, as a type of personal rejection.
In this spry and vital story, Tsilla Chelton stars as Danielle, a chronically depressed 82-year-old widow who longs for death; at least it will reunite her with her late husband (who died more than 50 years ago on Armistice Day) whose portrait she commiserates with in extended, paranoidal monologues. Content only when gorging upon sweets (forbidden by her doctor) and sneaking peeks at TV soaps, the old woman tyrannizes all who care for her, most prominently a devoted housekeeper (Neige Dolsky), a grand nephew (Eric Prat) and his obsequious wife (Catherine Jacob). She also gets her jollies from annoying strangers, kicking household pets and disdaining authority figures -- in short, as W.C. Fields would concur, she's not all bad.
Capturing both the elderly woman's mean-spirited nature as well as her sense of abandonment, screenwriter Florence Quentin has fleshed out a splendidly entertaining yet disturbing story. While the scenario seems a tad bloated with repetitions of the aged Danielle's most-abrasive behavior, director Etienne Chatiliez has honed a remarkably rounded human portrait in this spare and feisty movie.
The performances all shine, especially Chelton as the autocratic aunt. It's a straight-to-the-marrow performance, and Chelton maintains a hard integrity throughout, never sugar-coating her portrayal of the rancorous Danielle with false endearment or cutesy theatrics.
As the old woman's well-meaning but ultimately off-putting familial caretakers, Eric Prat and Mathieu Foulon are perfect -- they are the personification of good intentions gone awry. Isabelle Nanty's performance as a spunky young woman who calls the old lady's bluff is terrific. Nanty deftly shows her independent character's inner need to be loved, as well as her winning take-no-guff attitude.
Technical contributions are excellent. Director of photography Philippe Welt's crisp compositions and composer Gabriel Yared's crosscurrent woodwinds eloquently convey the contradictory human needs on display here.
TATIE DANIELLE
Prestige
A Film by Etienne Chatiliez
ProducerCharles Gassot
DirectorEtienne Chatiliez
ScreenwriterFlorence Quentin
Line producerVolker Lemke
Director of photographyPhilippe Welt
Production designerGeoffroy Larcher
MusicGabriel Yared
EditorCatherine Renault
Costume designerElisabeth Tavernier
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Tatie DanielleTsilla Chelton
Catherine BillardCatherine Jacob
SandrineIsabelle Nanty
OdileNeige Dolsky
Jean-Pierre BillardLaurence Fevrier
Madamde LafosseVirginie Pradal
Jean-Marie BillardMathieu Foulon
Running time -- 110 minutes
No MPAA rating
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
One doesn't have to have a Ph.D. in geriatric behavior to acknowledge that the elderly, like small children, have a natural power base for obnoxious behavior, and that kind and considerate people often indulge them, dismissing their most unsavory antics as a side-effect of their age. In certain instances, including this story, such latitude is perceived by the elderly person as a form of condescension, and, ultimately, as a type of personal rejection.
In this spry and vital story, Tsilla Chelton stars as Danielle, a chronically depressed 82-year-old widow who longs for death; at least it will reunite her with her late husband (who died more than 50 years ago on Armistice Day) whose portrait she commiserates with in extended, paranoidal monologues. Content only when gorging upon sweets (forbidden by her doctor) and sneaking peeks at TV soaps, the old woman tyrannizes all who care for her, most prominently a devoted housekeeper (Neige Dolsky), a grand nephew (Eric Prat) and his obsequious wife (Catherine Jacob). She also gets her jollies from annoying strangers, kicking household pets and disdaining authority figures -- in short, as W.C. Fields would concur, she's not all bad.
Capturing both the elderly woman's mean-spirited nature as well as her sense of abandonment, screenwriter Florence Quentin has fleshed out a splendidly entertaining yet disturbing story. While the scenario seems a tad bloated with repetitions of the aged Danielle's most-abrasive behavior, director Etienne Chatiliez has honed a remarkably rounded human portrait in this spare and feisty movie.
The performances all shine, especially Chelton as the autocratic aunt. It's a straight-to-the-marrow performance, and Chelton maintains a hard integrity throughout, never sugar-coating her portrayal of the rancorous Danielle with false endearment or cutesy theatrics.
As the old woman's well-meaning but ultimately off-putting familial caretakers, Eric Prat and Mathieu Foulon are perfect -- they are the personification of good intentions gone awry. Isabelle Nanty's performance as a spunky young woman who calls the old lady's bluff is terrific. Nanty deftly shows her independent character's inner need to be loved, as well as her winning take-no-guff attitude.
Technical contributions are excellent. Director of photography Philippe Welt's crisp compositions and composer Gabriel Yared's crosscurrent woodwinds eloquently convey the contradictory human needs on display here.
TATIE DANIELLE
Prestige
A Film by Etienne Chatiliez
ProducerCharles Gassot
DirectorEtienne Chatiliez
ScreenwriterFlorence Quentin
Line producerVolker Lemke
Director of photographyPhilippe Welt
Production designerGeoffroy Larcher
MusicGabriel Yared
EditorCatherine Renault
Costume designerElisabeth Tavernier
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Tatie DanielleTsilla Chelton
Catherine BillardCatherine Jacob
SandrineIsabelle Nanty
OdileNeige Dolsky
Jean-Pierre BillardLaurence Fevrier
Madamde LafosseVirginie Pradal
Jean-Marie BillardMathieu Foulon
Running time -- 110 minutes
No MPAA rating
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 5/1/1991
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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