New Zealand fashion and lifestyle blog

My Afternoons with Margueritte

I’m not one to fall for the emotional blackmail of most mainstream movies yet was easily moved by the triumph of the underdog in this film and I highly recommend you check it out if you feel the same way…

My Afternoons with Margueritte

Afternoons with Margueritte is a delightful story about Germain, an unwieldy 50-something man, who encounters a delicate old woman in the park counting pigeons. Upon discovering that Germain has names for each of the birds and that one even shares its moniker with the elderly woman, Margueritte, the pair begin to form a bond that will inevitably change the course of their lives.

Based on a novel by Marie-Sabine Roger, and directed by Jean Becker, My Afternoons with Margueritte is thoroughly delightful and decidedly sweet.

Gerard Depardieu plays Germain, a man who is mocked by his friends for his ignorance and tormented by his seemingly callous mother with whom he still lives. But what he encounters in book-loving Margueritte is a chance to discover parts of his intellect that previously been dormant.

95-year-old actress Gisele Casadesus who unquestionably steals the viewers’ hearts and attention plays Margueritte. While I was personally fond of Germain and his sweetheart, Anette, it is Margueritte who brings the most warmth and charm to this enchanting French film with her understated elegance and discerning expressions.

Director, Jean Becker claims to like making ‘simple movies [where] directing is directing you don’t notice’. To his credit My Afternoons with Margueritte is just that. Like many French films, the emphasis of this story lies in the dialogue, rather than the action, and it works perfectly.

If you enjoy a sweet story with loveable characters overcoming their personal tribulations then My Afternoons with Margueritte is a perfect fit. I’m not one to fall for the emotional blackmail of most mainstream movies yet was easily moved by the triumph of the underdog in this film and I highly recommend you check it out if you feel the same way.

My Afternoons with Margueritte is in NZ cinemas from 23rd June 2011.

By Jasmine Pearson 22 May 2011


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