Gazon Maudit (French Twist)

Starring: Victoria Abril, Josiane Balasko, Alain Chabat, Ticky Holgado

Written and Directed by Josiane Balasko

Music by Manuel Malou

Cinematography by Gérard de Battista

Yours truly likes nothing better than to settle back for a light-heavyweight farce from France. I rate these films by the smile factor. If, during most of it, I have a smile on my face--proof that the film is making me glad I'm alive--then I am prepared to tell all and sundry about it. "French Twist" is such a film.

The French do summer better than any nation. Whether the protagonists are a squabbling family doomed in their attempt to have a happy holiday or a couple of murderers trying to ditch a body, the backdrops make you wish you were there. Somewhere during the film there will be a pitcher of water with the name "Ricard" printed on it and you're going to find yourself reaching towards the screen to pick up that opaque glass of Pernod or Cinquante et un. You can't beat France in summertime, no matter how hot it gets. Even the Normandy coast looks inviting.

In "French Twist" it's the area around and including Cavaillon in the South. Here we find Laurent (Alain Chabat), a womanising real estate salesman, and his contented Spanish wife, Loli (Victoria Abril) about to have their lives turned upside down. Enter Marie Jo (Josiane Balasko), a plump, butch lesbian, who comes to the house to fix the plumbing...and stays for dinner.

Balasko (the object of Gerard Depardieu's offbeat affection in Bertrand Blier's "Trop Belle Pour Toi") wrote the film as well as directing and starring in it, and she has served up some choice moments of social commentary. Laurent is the epitome of the chauvinistic man with double standards. He considers it natural to have an affair with every woman in town but is outraged by the eventual attention Loli receives from Marie Jo. In spite of his trenchant views, Laurent is plunged into a menage a trois.

The film teeters between comedy and drama until it turns into farce, but by then you are happy to suspend judgement and just enjoy it. The film's dominant theme is one of love and affection, regardless of gender. That Balasko cast herself as the warm-hearted but distinctly unglamorous Lesbian keeps the film from degenerating into soft porn.

Highlights:

• Joli begs Laurent to forgive her for her indiscretions with Marie Jo. Abril delivers a powerful portrayal of the subjugation of women to feckless men. A great moment in the career of a great actress.

• After learning of his affairs, Joli encounters him with a penis-shrivelling cry: "Hijo de Puta!" This is Spanish for "Son of a bitch," but never has it been uttered with such authority.

• Ticky Holgado's sympathetic portrayal of Laurent's bumbling sidekick, Antoine. After the scene of remorse at his unthinking but well meaning betrayal of Laurent, you come to love him.

• The weary old prostitute (Catherine Samie) who counsels Laurent about recognising the love of your life and doing anything to keep it.

"French Twist" suffers from some dicey editing, repetition of plot episodes, and an unwillingness to jump off the fence, but it is time well spent. In terms of films where no one suffers from lack of money and the weather is always nice, it's a winner.

Harold Hark
Author: Living in the O and The Moon Food Cafe

Top    Hark's Rippers 'n' Wankers