By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Grégory Magne
Starring: Emmanuelle Devos | Grégory Montel | Gustave Kervern | Lisa Perrio | Pauline Moulène | Sergi Lopez | Zelie Rixhon
Original language title: Les parfums
Country: france
Year: 2021
Running time: 100
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11748354/reference
Michael says: “There’s nothing all that unique or original about Grégory Magne’s French comedy PERFUMES, but it’s quite noteworthy, and enjoyable, because it really does everything right. Guillaume is a chauffeur, whose recent traffic violations are making his boss reluctant to use him on jobs. Going through a divorce, Guillaume needs a steady income in order to get a larger home so he can share custody of his daughter, who he adores, so his boss lets him take a client who is known to be difficult. Anne Wallberg is a former celebrity in the perfume world. but she has fallen out of favor and now takes jobs set up by her agent that take advantage of her ‘nose,’ a discerning sense of scents, to mask the smell of a odor-belching factory, or replicate the smell of a fine leather handbag for atmosphere. Anne is soft-spoken, but arrogant and with high expectations, treating Guillaume more as a personal valet than a driver.
“After his first job with Anne, Guillaume is unable to hold back and as he drops her off for the evening, takes her to task for her expectations, and her lack of social niceties, such as please and thank you. This seems to be a bit of a breakthrough for the pair, because both Guillaume and her boss are surprised when Anne asks for Guillaume again, for a job that doesn’t even involve driving, and she will take no one else. With this set-up, you can see it’s a bit of an odd couple situation, and you expect that the pair will eventually fid common ground and form some sort of a bond. Again, not surprisingly, that’s the case, but between the writing, the acting, slight unexpected twists, you’re in for a delightful ride.
“Grégory Montel’s is perfect as Guillaume, a bit of a mess, polite but opinionated, and a devoted father. I don’t know him from anywhere, but he’s had a solid career in movies and TV, most recently as a regular in ‘Call My Agent.” Emmanuelle Devos, well-known to Chlotrudis members for her early work in such films as READ MY LIPS, KINGS & QUEEN, and LA MOUSTACHE. Working steadily since then, Devos has matured into a truly grand actor, commanding the screen even with a quietly, damaged character as Ann Wallberg. The chemistry between Montel and Devos is natural and winning, as are Montel’s scenes with Zélie Rhixon, who winningly plays his daughter Léa. The director’s screenplay is lovely, witty, and intelligent, nothing feels forced, or formulaic, and the slight twists and turns well-constructed. Cinematography by Thomas Rhames should be noted as well, as Anne’s job takes the pair to most unusual locales, and the film is shot with a naturalism and a beauty that stands out. 4 cats”