RIVIERA REVENGE/ N’AVOUE JAMAIS, France, 2024. Starring Andre Dussollier, Sabine Azema, Thierry Lhermitte. Directed by Ivan Calberac Rated M (Coarse language and nudity).
There is something tantalising about the English version of the title of this very French comedy with serious undertones. The French title leads us more into the serious themes of the film, ‘Never Tell’ (highlighted in the lyrics in the song during the final credits).
A target audience for this film is the older audience with three well-established veterans of French cinema, with Dussollier as Frank, a retired French Army veteran, principled, precise, demanding, with Azema as Annie, his wife of 50 years. Together they have three children and Annie has been a devoted companion over the decades. Lhermitte is Boris, a charming man about town, living comfortably in retirement.
It all opens cheerily, with a family celebration with children and grandchildren for Annie’s birthday party. They all have to sing Frank’s new lyrics to the melody of ‘The Marseilles’. It offers a quick glimpse into the variety of characters, important for what is to follow.
In many ways this is the material of French farce. Frank, through a stash of letters conveniently/inconveniently discovered in the attic, discovers Annie was unfaithful about 40 years earlier. The story is the repercussions of this discovery on each of the characters. Frank is flabbergasted and highly offended. He denounces his wife, talks of divorce, and wants some revenge on Boris. He discovers Boris’ address and so Frank and Annie go to Boris’ hometown Nice. They stay with their daughter and discover her secrets.
While there are a lot of farcical confrontations and some mocking of the characters, there are serious themes underlying the surface. Themes of fidelity and infidelity, whether to leave errors in the past or resurrect them, understanding and forgiveness or refusal of understanding, mean-minded vengeance . . .
The actors are so skilful that they are quite persuasive even if times there is more than a touch of the caricature. And, there are implications for the children, the next generation and dealing with this upset of their parents. Meanwhile, Boris is absolutely charming and understanding.
There is a part pleasing resolution when both Frank and Annie watch a performance of a puppet play, some of the dialogue touching on Frank and his own experience of his strict parents. And there is an emotional sequence when Frank, accused of having a relationship with an attractive young woman, before he met Annie, finds her address and discovers that she is in care.
The last minute or so is very French, French farce and comedy – and many will enjoy the implications of what is revealed but, for this reviewer, too frivolous an ending for what has gone before.
Potential
Released 26 June