It would be easy to ridicule Looking for Hortense as yet another French film about middle class Paris residents with their petty problems. That would, however, be doing this film a disservice. Yes, it does centre on a middle aged couple living in a large, slightly run down apartment who have jobs that no one you have ever met has – a theatre director and a someone who teaches Asian culture to business executives who travel to that continent. And, yes, one of their ‘problems’ is that both of them have younger good looking people attracted to them, but this is a more complex story than you might think.
The brilliantly world weary Jean-Pierre Bacri plays Damien who is not only facing up to his wife’s infidelity but his son’s rebelliousness and a suicidal friend. On top of that, he is trying to extend the stay in France of a family friend who is on the verge of being deported back to Serbia. To do that, he needs to beg a favour of his powerful civil servant father with whom he has a difficult relationship. Kristin Scott Thomas, who it is not surprising to see in a non English language film these days, also convinces as the wife, Iva, and director who succumbs to the charms of one of her young actors despite seemingly being happy in her marriage.
The third outstanding performance is from Isabelle Carre, as Zorica, the girl under threat of deportation. Carre manages to portray a quirky character without being annoying at any point and she is charming enough to make Damien’s increasing efforts to keep her in the country totally believable.
The plot unfolds in some unexpected ways with a sweet ending, and the script is excellent throughout. For example, after Damien finds out about Iva’s affair and asks her to leave, she asks “Is that what you want?” His response of “No, but that is how it has to be” is perfectly delivered by Bacri, and you can see the pain on his face. Lighter moments are sprinkled throughout the film to stop it being too heavy going or preachy. All in all a very satisfying film that will surely feature on my best of the year list.