Love Etc.

Starring: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Yvan Attal Director: Marion Vernoux Original UK Premiere: 1998 Dvd Release: 26th September, 2005 Number Of Discs: 1 Format: PAL, Subtitled, Region 2 Encoding Subtitled In: English

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This is a very French & very charming love story, filmed as only the French seem to know how with remarkable subtlety & sensitivity. Benoit, played by Yvan Attal, a shy & introverted bank-clerk, advertises for a girl friend & has the remarkable good fortune to meet the modest & appealing Marie, played by Charlotte Gainsbourg, a girl with the natural look, without much evidence of any make-up. She doesnt feel any instant attraction but likes him because he is nice & kind - though, as it turns out, also dull & unimaginative. He takes her to meet his best friend Pierre, played by Charles Berling, & for over a year the three of them go about everywhere together. Then she marries Benoit with Pierre acting as his best-man.

But throughout this time Pierre has been trying to stifle his love for Marie & failing miserably. Able to stand it no longer he declares his love & Marie is horrified. She does her best to discourage him but over many months he pursues her with a persistence that not many men would be capable of.

And in the end, as we expect, his persistence pays off. What woman could withstand such ardent overtures from a charismatic man with a sense of humour? And he behaves in a lovable, unconventional way, - a bit in the style of Cary Grant - he lies spread-eagled in the middle of the road to stop an approaching car & he stands on his head when she takes his photograph at the sea-side, both actions a bit beyond the nice but plodding Benoit. When however, Benoit discovers their guilty secret he reacts violently, a scene that seems a little out of place in a film which up to that point has been pleasant & amusing.

Betrayed by his best friend & the woman he loves, & consequently losing them both, is it possible for him ever to be happy again? Well the film does end happily - if a little unconvincingly - to the accompaniment of a very moving & very French ballad. Believe me it will bring tears to your eyes.

Charlotte Gainsbourg, daughter of French poet & singer, Serge Gainsbourg & actress Jane Birkin, was born on July 22, 1971 in London, England. Growing up in a theatrical/musical bilingual family, she made her motion picture debut in the 1984 film Paroles et musique. In 1986 she won the Cesar Award for Most Promising Actress for her appearance in Leffrontée & in 2000 she won again for Best Supporting Actress in the film La Bûche. In addition to her acting career, she has made two record albums & sung the title song in one of her films. Ms. Gainsbourg works & lives in France. She is married to French actor & director Yvan Attal, father of her two children. La merveilleuse odyssée de lidiot Toboggan --. Lemon incest recorded at age 13 with her father. Charlotte Forever songs written by her father. Love, etc title song from her 1996 film of the same name. Posters Of 21 Grams

Editors Choice: 21 Grams, My Wife Is An Actress, The Cement Garden, Merci La Vie, View DVDology

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