The Merry Widow (2007)

Fresh and Exciting

Awesome Movie

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Although she now has three credits as writer director Isabelle Mergault, unlike for example Valerie Lemercier, Noemie Lvovsky, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. to name only three, has so far chosen not to perform in films she has directed. Given her 49 acting credits on film plus others on stage - I myself saw her perform in her own play Ne Me Regardez Comme Ca in Paris last year = this is clearly not from lack of ability but perhaps she admires the three triple- threats cited and feels acting in addition to writing and directing would be a threat too far. I've yet to see her last (so far) entry as a double threat, Donnant Donnant, but I have seen and enjoyed her debut, I Find You Very Handsome, and the follow up, this one both of which whet the appetite for the third despite the Entertainment- hating tame reviewer at filmsdefrance who heaved his usual harpoon at enfin veuve. Michelle Laroque and Jacques Gamblin are assets to any film in which they deign to appear and weigh in with top-drawer acting in this take on The Merry Widow in which Laroque, trapped in a marriage dead from the neck down but happy with lover Gamblin is suddenly free to love him openly until her family from Hell move in convinced they are sustaining her. Okay, it's a trifle but it's cooked to a fare-the-well by all hands and a delight to watch.

"The Merry Widow" is a highly unusual comedy film as it does not rely on gimmicks and absurdities to tell the tale of a middle aged widow who manages to find her true love.Isabelle Mergault adds elements of drama in order to portray a difficult love story of Anne-Marie who has been recently widowed.In times of grief,family members provide succour but they have been ridiculed in this film.Enfin Veuve does not provide any easy solutions to its lovers in order to come closer.It makes people laugh as its protagonists get rid of all obstacles in their midst to unite.Actors Jacques Gamblin and Michèle Laroque are perfect in their roles as lovers who convey that widowhood is not a hindrance if a widow wishes to proclaim her love.There is hardly any film producing nation as prolific as France where women directors do not have to suffer any kind of prejudice to make films of their choice.If one looks at the films made by them,one would not fail to remark that many of them have been made by actresses who have had second innings as film directors.Isabelle Mergault has maintained a film per year in her three decade long career as an actress."Enfin Veuve" / The merry widow is her second successful film as a director after tasting success with "Je Vous Trouve Très Beau".

An optimistic film with a morale. Nothing is out of tune in this movie starred by Michele Laroque and then, the rest. Jacques Gamblin gives one of his stellar appearances, a hardened loner that can speak poetically seemingly at all the right moments.This film starts when most finish: we witness a solid love between a couple in their 40s. Another thing I like is that: am fed up of teenagers pretending to act when they can barely deliver lines :)! "Il Mio refugio", the music accompanying the end titles, is the best chosen soundtrack: it gives the exact nuance of a film that doesn't pretend much, and though not shying away from showing us feelings, achieves a lot. Léo gets better lines, but "Moumousse" could show with her regard that she is in love even to somebody who never learnt any (verbal) language! The hypocrisy of the sister in law, the fidelity but at the same time moral condemnation of the maid, and above all the leisurely times of a working class bar at ... (a coastal town, rather affluent) make this film a pleasure to the mind as well as to the senses. Her son, gullible but not devoid of dignity, is pivotal. Very well cast.Great shots of this seaside town, makes you almost want to have lived there all your life. Shot in different tows of the "Var" (?) county, in France. Thanks IMDb, as usual, for their obsessive interest in film! What would we do without you!It's no wonder this film was such a huge success.

AT LAST: . a movie for my friend & me alone : actually, I think it was the first time. Why this movie in particular ? It's a recommendation from work colleagues.. a french movie : Being french, my annual dose is about 2/3 by year ! Amazing, isn't it ! . a movie out of Paris : find me a french movie outside Paris and I bet you are a great movie-maniac ! Because french cinema, as the french life, values Paris above everything, the remain is desert ! . a movie in the actual time: another choice of french cinema : a narcissus love for its past : as in advertising, it was the « good old days » ! I don't think so ! . a movie with a morality : I like when a director illustrates a story with a point of view, even if i'm not agree with it. There, it's about the price to pay when you lack courage or get into easiness with lies. Well, what happens when you have no respect for your relatives ! In other words, it's a light comedy about true and false loves. maybe some scenes failed because they are too written to appear spontaneous! But, it gives us a great evening!