Romuald et Juliette (1989)

I love this movie so much

A Masterpiece!

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

I watched this film with only the vaguest idea of the plot and only recognizing the name of Daniel Auteuil. Though not outstanding, this film managed what it aimed and left me feeling in a happy mood at the end. A fairly implausible plot takes nothing from a humorous work and if anything only adds to it. Not an Oscar winner by any means, nor does it aim to be. Auteuil is good, as one expects, but Firmine Richard is very entertaining as a strong willed mother of five. It's all very 80s, the clothes, the music, the technology, but it dates well. There are some really laugh out loud moments and some sad moments, as well as some boring moments, but the director and script keep the film moving quickly and the dull moments are few and far between. A very entertaining film and well worth a watch.

A more or less typical form of numbskull Hollywood osmosis was responsible for the change of title for this charming French interracial romance when it crossed the Atlantic, from the perfectly adequate 'Romuald and Juliette' (shades of Shakespeare), which at least identifies the two unlikely lovers. Romuald is an aggressive yogurt tycoon who works in the executive suite of a Paris skyscraper; Juliette is the black cleaning woman who empties his garbage overnight, and when she learns of an insider trading and sabotage scheme the two become allies and (inevitably) lovers. There's nothing deep or significant here, but the script is both sensitive and, at times, even clever, and (surprisingly) never loses sight of the obvious social/racial/economic gaps dividing its two protagonists. But to say it ends happily-ever-after is an understatement: the resolution is too incredibly upbeat. And does it seem odd that a French film should have to justify their affair by showing Romuald's wife also fooling around?

I would not compare it to Le Placard, which IMHO had more comic moments, but Romuald & Juliette while being a slow starter certainly kept your attention going throughout the film, nicely paced and reaching a heart warming conclusion :) There were many marvellous comedic moments, some brilliant pathos and realistic situation acting by all actors.It was a typically French film, in which while confronting prejudices and phobias, which in turn the made the viewer confront his own shortcomings! I am certainly pleased to have this in my library, and will no doubt watch it time and time again, which to me is a mark of a great film.

Daniel Auteuil is sad and silly, sweet and take charge as Romuald the hapless yogurt company CEO who loses his comfortable existence, but finds true love and wisdom. The soundtrack includes a terrific instrumental by Stevie Ray Vaughn--this film gives one hope that we may all find that "someone special" and have the perfect theme to accompany that romance. The perfect film for one who enjoys a good love story as well as a comedy of errors.