Cousin Cousine is a delight. I have never seen a film before that has made me feel so happy to be alive. A charming, refreshing, celebration of life. Nominated for best foreign language film at the Academy Awards, as well as best screenplay and best Actress- Marie Christine Barrault, It was remade years later in America in a feeble attempt to capture the true charm that often accompanies French films. This original French Version is one of my top 5 favorite films.
Jean Charles Tacchella tells a story which starts with a Wedding. On the Groom's side, we are introduced to Ludovic (Victor Lanoux) - the Nephew, his wife Karine (Marie France Pisier) and their daughter Nelsa (Catherine Verlor). On the Bride's side, her daughter Marthe (Barrault), her husband Pascal (Guy Marchand), and their son Eric. Ludovic and Marthe find themselves alone that night with their spouses nowhere to be found, and strike up a conversation.
Ludovic is a dance instructor, but changes his profession every 3 years. Before that, he studied mushrooms for a living. His wife has issues, one being depression. Her latest treatment - Sleep therapy. Their daughter Nelsa has a few issues of her own, believing that she has seen the worst that adolescence has to offer, and feels that maybe the earth would be a better place if humans ceased to exist. Rather than marrying one day, she would prefer to commit a murder. To her, it would seem no more absurd than raising a family. She also has a love of photography, and manages at this gathering to expose all the hidden naughty behaviors of family members on both sides, much to the delight of the small children who find the adults behavior quite amusing.
Marthe explains she is a rather bored housewife, with a husband who lusts after every woman he sees- which he firmly denies. When both spouses finally turn up after having an obvious affair, Ludovic and Marthe start seeing each other. At first, it's completely platonic, but after a few days together that changes. It is not so much to get even with their spouses for cheating on them, but more hedonistic in nature. When their cheating spouses find out, they panic and try to make amends. Pascal breaks off his affairs with the 6 other women he's been sleeping with, then proudly tells his wife. Poor Karine decides to get more sleep therapy. But both Ludovic and Marthe fall madly in love, and make sure the entire family knows about it.
This of course leads to numerous comic events that are all hysterical in nature and too numerous to mention. Cousin Cousine is open, honest, and lacking in pretense. Tacchella's ability to inhabit Bourgeois sensibility in an unconventional and free spirited way throughout the film both enhances and heightens its appeal, and what makes it so charming. Laughs galore, and the musical score makes this romp even more comical. Pisier, Marchand, and Verlor steal this film in their supporting roles. Hats off to France for yet another comedy classic. It gets 9/10 stars from me.
Jean Charles Tacchella tells a story which starts with a Wedding. On the Groom's side, we are introduced to Ludovic (Victor Lanoux) - the Nephew, his wife Karine (Marie France Pisier) and their daughter Nelsa (Catherine Verlor). On the Bride's side, her daughter Marthe (Barrault), her husband Pascal (Guy Marchand), and their son Eric. Ludovic and Marthe find themselves alone that night with their spouses nowhere to be found, and strike up a conversation.
Ludovic is a dance instructor, but changes his profession every 3 years. Before that, he studied mushrooms for a living. His wife has issues, one being depression. Her latest treatment - Sleep therapy. Their daughter Nelsa has a few issues of her own, believing that she has seen the worst that adolescence has to offer, and feels that maybe the earth would be a better place if humans ceased to exist. Rather than marrying one day, she would prefer to commit a murder. To her, it would seem no more absurd than raising a family. She also has a love of photography, and manages at this gathering to expose all the hidden naughty behaviors of family members on both sides, much to the delight of the small children who find the adults behavior quite amusing.
Marthe explains she is a rather bored housewife, with a husband who lusts after every woman he sees- which he firmly denies. When both spouses finally turn up after having an obvious affair, Ludovic and Marthe start seeing each other. At first, it's completely platonic, but after a few days together that changes. It is not so much to get even with their spouses for cheating on them, but more hedonistic in nature. When their cheating spouses find out, they panic and try to make amends. Pascal breaks off his affairs with the 6 other women he's been sleeping with, then proudly tells his wife. Poor Karine decides to get more sleep therapy. But both Ludovic and Marthe fall madly in love, and make sure the entire family knows about it.
This of course leads to numerous comic events that are all hysterical in nature and too numerous to mention. Cousin Cousine is open, honest, and lacking in pretense. Tacchella's ability to inhabit Bourgeois sensibility in an unconventional and free spirited way throughout the film both enhances and heightens its appeal, and what makes it so charming. Laughs galore, and the musical score makes this romp even more comical. Pisier, Marchand, and Verlor steal this film in their supporting roles. Hats off to France for yet another comedy classic. It gets 9/10 stars from me.