A French woman mourning over the death of her husband three years prior is courted by a Swedish co-worker.

Nathalie Kerr

Markus Lundell

Chloé, Nathalie's secretary

Sophie, Nathalie's best friend

François, Nathalie's husband

Charles Delamain

Pierre, Sophie's companion

Benoît, member of Nathalie's team

Madeleine, Nathalie's grandmother

François' mother

François' father

Nathalie's mother

Nathalie's father

Ingrid, Charles's secretary

Usherette of the theater

Valet restaurant Charles

Waitress restaurant Charles

Doctor

Meeting cafe waiter

Bar waitress
What I didn't quite get from this is why the recently bereaved "Nathalie" (Audrey Tautou) would have moved on from the cute and cuddly "François" (Pio Marmaï) to the rather stockily structured Swede "Markus" (François Damiens). Anyway, when the former man in her life goes for an ill-advised jog, she finds herself widowed, back at work and largely rudderless. Her boss (Bruno Todeschini) has always been keen, but she makes it rather abruptly (and entertainingly) clear that not even on a desert island. Then - well after about three years - she encounters her new Swedish colleague. She doesn't exactly mince her words (or actions) and that leaves him in a semi-pleasant state of confusion. To say she initially blows hot and cold would be an understatement, but as things settle down it might just prove possible that something substantial might happen between them - but first she must come to terms with, and try to deal with a grief that still lingers. Along the way, there are some entertaining swipes at the politics of the office and of friendships where opinions are never far away - wanted or otherwise. The denouement is a little quirky. It's not what I was expecting but did somehow top off this meringue of a film. It's got just enough of a frame to hold it together, but is pretty mushy underneath. Tautou has a charm about her - she reminds me slightly of Audrey Hepburn, and the direction allows her to present her characterisation engagingly as the essence of the film. Even though it's all a little listless at times, I did quite enjoy it.
December 20, 2011

Nathalie Kerr

Markus Lundell

Chloé, Nathalie's secretary

Sophie, Nathalie's best friend

François, Nathalie's husband

Charles Delamain

Pierre, Sophie's companion

Benoît, member of Nathalie's team

Madeleine, Nathalie's grandmother

François' mother

François' father

Nathalie's mother

Nathalie's father

Ingrid, Charles's secretary

Usherette of the theater

Valet restaurant Charles

Waitress restaurant Charles

Doctor

Meeting cafe waiter

Bar waitress
What I didn't quite get from this is why the recently bereaved "Nathalie" (Audrey Tautou) would have moved on from the cute and cuddly "François" (Pio Marmaï) to the rather stockily structured Swede "Markus" (François Damiens). Anyway, when the former man in her life goes for an ill-advised jog, she finds herself widowed, back at work and largely rudderless. Her boss (Bruno Todeschini) has always been keen, but she makes it rather abruptly (and entertainingly) clear that not even on a desert island. Then - well after about three years - she encounters her new Swedish colleague. She doesn't exactly mince her words (or actions) and that leaves him in a semi-pleasant state of confusion. To say she initially blows hot and cold would be an understatement, but as things settle down it might just prove possible that something substantial might happen between them - but first she must come to terms with, and try to deal with a grief that still lingers. Along the way, there are some entertaining swipes at the politics of the office and of friendships where opinions are never far away - wanted or otherwise. The denouement is a little quirky. It's not what I was expecting but did somehow top off this meringue of a film. It's got just enough of a frame to hold it together, but is pretty mushy underneath. Tautou has a charm about her - she reminds me slightly of Audrey Hepburn, and the direction allows her to present her characterisation engagingly as the essence of the film. Even though it's all a little listless at times, I did quite enjoy it.

