Popular (2012)

Directed by: Regis Roinsard | 111 minutes | romance, comedy | Actors: Romain Duris, Déborah François, Bérénice Bejo, Shaun Benson, Mélanie Bernier, Nicolas Bedos, Miou-Miou, Eddy Mitchell, Frédéric Pierrot, Marius Colucci, Emeline Bayart, Yannik Landrein, Nastassja Girard, Caroline Tillette, Jeanne Cohendy

A movie about typewriters. That doesn’t sound very sexy, but it can be made into an exciting story. This is evident from the film ‘Populaire’, in which the beautiful girl Rose secretly practices on the typewriter at night in her father’s village shop. If she can tap fast enough, like a real modern woman, she applies for the position of secretary in the city. Louis falls for her quick typing, and takes her on a trial basis. He makes her enter typing contests, and has her undergo a year’s training. He pushes her to the limit, lets her live with him so that he can also train her in the evening to become world champion typing.

Of course, the two fall in love, but it is difficult for them to come together. Even with the help of Louis’s friends, love doesn’t work out. Until the spark does fly at the national championship, and they seem to have finally found each other. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to set Louis on fire, and he rejects Rose anyway. She then chooses the path with more glamour, and she grows into a true idol. Rose gets her own TV spots, advertising a pink typewriter from the Populaire brand. She gains star status and many young women dream of an existence like this modern woman has.

Although Rose plays a feminist woman for the time in this French film, this film will not be very nice for the hardcore feminists. The women are all portrayed quite passively, and they all seem to be spiritually dependent on the men. At a certain point Louis is congratulated on his title, which was really won by Rose. In the 1950s, the proportions were quite different from today, and in that sense director Régis Roinsard has created a realistic image of the time in ‘Populaire’.

The outfits, sets and cars are nice and retro and very well cared for. ‘Populaire’ is a fine love story, not about larger-than-life characters, but about a romance between ordinary people who happen to be good with typewriters. There are cozy songs in it, such as a ‘cha cha cha de secretaire’ – the name alone makes you happy! During the matches, an original montage has been applied, in which many extreme close-ups are shown of fingers, whistles, nervous and venomous looks. In this way the ultimate concentration of the ladies is emphasized, and a contrast is created with the exuberant cheering audience. Who would have ever thought that people cheer for typing as much as they cheer for football?