Shall We Kiss? (2007)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

"Shall We Kiss?" tells the story of complex relationships, further complicated by the simple existence of physical attraction and sexual tension. The film's four main characters have a unique chemistry (in their respective individual relationships: Judith with Nicolas and Emilie with Gabriel); relationships that can't particularly be compared to others in similar movies. It's hard to say whether this movie was good or not. What's unique and intriguing about it is the story-within-a-story concept, something that might intrigue people to watch the film. The actors did not have the usual chemistry you'd expect to see in a romantic comedy film, but somehow, they made it work. The odd way they approached certain situations with each other made the movie a bit mysterious, in a way that the viewer looked forward to the upcoming scenes. For example, in scenes where you were just ready for them to resolve their sexual tension, they would not—or they would, just in an absurd way, by touching each other as if they'd break in half if any more force were to be used. The way these two relationships unfold is enough to keep the viewer's attention.One idea that viewers might find interesting is how men and women alike have difficulty addressing their true feelings, and how to handle strong emotions towards friends and strangers when they know it could potentially ruin other relationships. For example, at the beginning of the film, when Emilie wants to kiss Gabriel, she has an internal battle between doing what's right and what's wrong, knowing that she has a significant other back home. While physically attracted to Gabriel, she tries to push off the kiss by diverting the conversation and they go and have drinks.Another idea that viewers might find interesting—not necessarily positive or negative—is how it is so common not only in movies, but in real life, for best friends to fall in love with each other. In the film, I feel as if the audience is continuously rooting for Nicolas and Judith to get together, just as I was. Their unique chemistry translates so well on screen, and I feel as if many people can relate to it or have been in similar situations themselves. Two aspects of the film that I found particularly French of the film were 1) how plain/bland everything was and 2) how stereotypically French it looks to Americans. For one, much of the wardrobe and set was white, beige, tan, or black. An example of this would be when Nicolas and Judith first get in bed: the sheets are white, the walls are white, her top is white, and he is wearing neutral colors as well. For the second aspect, Americans usually view the French as very cultured, interested in music and the arts. This is proved in the film when Claudio, Nicolas and Judith all attend an art gallery showing. I don't think this would particularly happen in American culture, especially seeing as Nicolas is a math teacher and Judith is a lab researcher.The last thing that absolutely needs to be addressed is the talent that the director, Emmanuel Mouret, has. Not only does he direct the film, but he also plays the character of Nicolas, and he plays it well. But, he should be familiar in playing such a romantic role seeing as a majority of his films are romantic comedies. He has acted in ten films and has directed 8, although having only won one actual award ("Best Screenplay" for the Art of Love at the Montreal World Film Festival). This does not mean that he's a poor filmmaker, for he has been nominated for many, he just hasn't beat out the competition. Mouret is also a screenwriter; he has written 8 titles. Having written, directed, and acted in this film, this says much about Mouret's talent.

"Shall We Kiss?" is a pretty good little film--mostly because the story is very unique. It begins when Gabriel and Emilie meet. They spend a happy evening together and as they are about to part, Gabriel is about to kiss Emilie. However, she stops him--saying that even an innocent kiss COULD lead to unanticipated consequences. She then goes on to tell him a story about two people she knows of--Judith and Nicholas. It seems that both were lifelong friends and Judith was in a relationship with Claudio. However, after Nicholas breaks up with his girl, he's depressed and full of repressed sexual needs. To relieve this, he suggests, quite haltingly, to Judith that she sleep with him--as friends. However, starting with a little kiss, the two slowly fall in love and then they are stuck--Nicholas is now with a nice lady and Claudio is also a nice person. While Judith and Nicholas WANT to be together, they can't let themselves hurt their partners. Where this all goes next is something you'll need to see for yourself.While the film is a bit unsavory for its elements of adultery, it is handled in a delicate and occasionally funny manner. The overall production is quite nice--not brilliant but clearly worth your time due to nice acting and a fresh story."Before a kiss is given, no one knows if it will big or if it will be small"

This movie is quite typically French—lots of talking, little actually happening. But within this framework it starts out quite well, is well directed, well acted, and the story is initially good and interesting.In the second half of the movie the two main figures plan an ingenious plot that makes the viewer curious about how it would work out. However, just when the movie becomes most interesting and things are actually happening, the plan abruptly fails in a rather concocted, unlikely way, frustrating the viewer and rendering the rest of the movie uninteresting.What a pity! This could have been one of the better French-style movies, if only the story author would have got his act together.

Emmanuel Mourcet is quietly carving out a niche as a master of the bittersweet love story, not only writing and directing but also starring and anyone who saw his last effort, Changement d'addresse, will want to catch this follow-up. Playing opposite him are two of the loveliest actresses in current French cinema, Julie Gayet and Virginie Ledoyen with Frederic Bel - who was also in Changement d'addresse - thrown if for good measure. Not a lot happens; Gayet asks directions from a stranger, accepts first a lift then a date but refuses the goodnight kiss she longs to accept. By way of explanation she tells a story of how another girl, Viginie Ledoyen, DID accept a kiss from Mouret that ultimately changed both their lives and it is, of course, more than possible that Gayet is using the 'a friend' ploy to speak about herself. You may not go that far to find a more charming and delightful movie but certainly farther than the corner drugstore, even a corner drugstore in the next town. If I were you I'd catch this one when it plays a cinema near you.