'Lover for a Day' is a low-key French film shot in black-and-white (ooh, arty!) in which Jeanne (Esther Garrel, by sheer coincidence the daughter of the film's director Philippe) turns up on the doorstep of her college lecturer father Gilles (Éric Caravaca) following a bust-up with her boyfriend. But daddy has a surprise: he's shacked up with Ariane (Louise Chevillotte), one of his students, who is the same age as Jeanne. This could be the springboard for major histrionics (can you imagine a similar situation in 'EastEnders'?) but instead Jeanne and Ariane become friends, with Ariane helping Jeanne mend her broken heart, and Jeanne in turn becoming complicit in Ariane's extra-curricular sexual activities.
With its play-like structure, this is very much an actors' film. If I am correct that Garrel owes her role to nepotism, I must admit that she does not let down her father, as like Chevillotte she turns in a subtly affecting performance. The often inconsequential conversations between the two young women are naturalistic without having the embarrassing 'workshopped' feel apparent in some other films. Caravaca, by virtue of age the more exprerienced actor of the trio, is also good, particularly when Gilles' relationship with Ariane begins to break down - once again, restraint is the key.
I enjoyed this. I look forward to watching it again.
With its play-like structure, this is very much an actors' film. If I am correct that Garrel owes her role to nepotism, I must admit that she does not let down her father, as like Chevillotte she turns in a subtly affecting performance. The often inconsequential conversations between the two young women are naturalistic without having the embarrassing 'workshopped' feel apparent in some other films. Caravaca, by virtue of age the more exprerienced actor of the trio, is also good, particularly when Gilles' relationship with Ariane begins to break down - once again, restraint is the key.
I enjoyed this. I look forward to watching it again.