Twice Upon a Time
This is an inter-cultural (French/English) romantic comedy, set amongst the red carpets and camera flashes of film celebrity. The movie is directed by Antoine de Caunes, and traces the relationship between ageing French director Louis Ruinard, played by Jean Rochefort, and his favourite British actress and former girlfriend, Alice d'Abanville, played by Charlotte Rampling. It has been thirty years since the two's break-up was on the front page of every newspaper; now Alice has been asked to present an award for life-time's achievement to Louis, whom she seems to loathe. This is the beginning of a difficult reunion, starting with Alice undermining Louis at the awards ceremony and mocking him in her award speech. We see a game being played between these two who are clearly still fond of each other but who have suppressed the hurt of their abrupt parting all those years ago.
I am very tempted to use the term 'feel-good' to describe this movie. Okay, I will: this is a feel-good movie. There is nothing nicer than seeing a couple get back together to see through their twilight years in romantic bliss. But what this means is that the movie slightly skips over the things that border this romantic reunion: the world of celebrity, the famous French/English rivalry (which is perhaps there to reinforce Louis' and Alice's difference and lingering hostilities but not explored further), and especially the businesses of acting and movie making. Since Twice Upon A Time is set in the world of film I expected it to explore film making, or at least celebrity. But this was not so — it is more like a romantic movie with an interesting setting. Things like the Hollywood-ish style of direction and the names of the characters — ruined Louis has the surname Ruinard, Lord Gaylord (Alice's husband) is gay, and the randy butler is named Randall — add to the climate of fun and light-heartedness that you often find in a 'feel good' movie.
On the whole both the acting and the direction were good, making for a well made, light romantic (feel-good) movie. If you like this sort of movie, then this is for you, but if you go expecting something about the world of film and celebrity, then you may be disappointed.
3/5 stars
Prithvi Varatharajan
