Review: Un + une (2015)

Director: Claude Lelouch | 110 minutes | adventure, comedy | Actors: Jean Dujardin, Elsa Zylberstein, Christopher Lambert, Alice Pol, Rahul Vohra, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Abhishek Krishnan, Venantino Venantini, Hélène Médigue, Olias Lelouch, Philippe Azoulay, Laurent Couson, Ramneeka Dhillon Lobo, Mona Irani, AbhishekKapchur , Priyanshu Chatterjee, Noa Musa-Lelouch

“Remember his name, because you won’t hear it very often.” The very first film by the French-Algerian director Claude Lelouch, ‘Le propre de l’homme’ from 1960, was finally burned down by the critics of the leading film magazine Cahiers du cinéma. The films he made immediately afterwards did not appeal to the critics either. Only with ‘Un homme et une femme’ (1966), starring Anouk Aimée and Jean-Louis Trintignant, the tide turned. Not only did the film nestle firmly in the top ten of most visited cinema films in France and the American film housegoers were also poked for it, the critics also let themselves be wrapped up by ‘Un homme et une femme’. The film not only won Lelouch a Golden Palm in Cannes, but also two Academy Awards (for best film in foreign languages ​​and for best script). Now even the critics of Cahier du cinéma could no longer ignore him! Lelouch went on to make more than fifty films, of which the musical spectacle ‘Les uns et les autres’ from 1981, together with the aforementioned ‘Un homme et une femme’, are among his masterpieces.

Although he is now approaching eighty, Claude Lelouch still regularly makes new films. For example, from 2015 comes’ Un + Une ‘, a not too complicated romantic drama in which Lelouch’ favorite subject – love – with yet another twist, is central. The lead role is for the French actor Jean Dujardin, who stole the hearts of the press and public with his charming role as George Valentin, big star of the ‘silent’ film, in ‘The Artist’ (2011). Moreover, a role that earned him the Oscar for best male lead, something that no other French actor had achieved for them. You can leave charm to Dujardin, because in ‘Un + Une’ he also captivates his audience in no time with his captivating smile and mischievous charisma. He plays Antoine Abeilard, a renowned film score composer who travels to India to find inspiration for the film score of a Bollywood version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Upon arrival, he meets Anna (Elsa Zylberstein), the wife of the French ambassador on the spot, Samuel Harmon (Chistophe Lambert), and the two immediately have a solid connection. The rather spiritually minded Anna is about to make a trip to Kerala, in the south of India, to meet spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi – Amma for short. She has an ardent desire to get pregnant and hopes that Amma’s magical powers can help her in this. The sober Antoine is skeptical about the powers of this legendary spiritual leader, but decides to join her on a journey. Who knows, he might get rid of his constant headaches!

Flirt and talk; endlessly discussing what concerns them and what they stand for, while looking each other deeply in the eye. That is the main part in ‘Un + Une’, an entertaining but not very memorable film. The question of whether they can bridge their differences in personality can actually be answered in advance. Because that Antoine and Anna end up in bed together is of course a certainty. What distinguishes ‘Un + Une’ from similar films is the setting: the colorful, lively and exotic India offers a sizzling breeding ground for the desire that is becoming more and more intense. Special is the scene in which Antoine and Anna meet spiritual leader Amma, a scene that differs from the rest in style and tone. This fragment exudes an authenticity and integrity that otherwise remains invisible. Amma knew she would be meeting actors that day, but she didn’t know who of the dozens of people who would ask her for her blessing that day were actually the movie stars. And that’s a good thing. The predictable, light-hearted story is carried brilliantly by the two protagonists; Dujardin has more charisma in his big toe than many other actors in their totality and doesn’t even have to go all out to get through this role; Elsa Zylberstein, in turn, gives him a good match as the vulnerable Anna, and the chemistry between the two is undeniable. Despite their fine contributions, ‘Un + Une’ is just like a pastry: it looks delicious, but it doesn’t give you a satisfied feeling. but she did not know who of the dozens of people who would ask her for her blessing that day were actually the movie stars. And that’s a good thing. The predictable, light-hearted story is carried brilliantly by the two protagonists; Dujardin has more charisma in his big toe than many other actors in their totality and doesn’t even have to go all out to get through this role; Elsa Zylberstein, in turn, gives him a good match as the vulnerable Anna, and the chemistry between the two is undeniable. Despite their fine contributions, ‘Un + Une’ is just like a pastry: it looks delicious, but it doesn’t give you a satisfied feeling. but she did not know who of the dozens of people who would ask her for her blessing that day were actually the movie stars. And that’s a good thing. The predictable, light-hearted story is carried brilliantly by the two protagonists; Dujardin has more charisma in his big toe than many other actors in their totality and doesn’t even have to go all out to get through this role; Elsa Zylberstein, in turn, gives him a good match as the vulnerable Anna, and the chemistry between the two is undeniable. Despite their fine contributions, ‘Un + Une’ is just like a pastry: it looks delicious, but it doesn’t give you a satisfied feeling. Dujardin has more charisma in his big toe than many other actors in their totality and doesn’t even have to go all out to get through this role; Elsa Zylberstein, in turn, gives him a good match as the vulnerable Anna, and the chemistry between the two is undeniable. Despite their fine contributions, ‘Un + Une’ is just like a pastry: it looks delicious, but it doesn’t give you a satisfied feeling. Dujardin has more charisma in his big toe than many other actors in their totality and doesn’t even have to go all out to get through this role; Elsa Zylberstein, in turn, gives him a good match as the vulnerable Anna, and the chemistry between the two is undeniable. Despite their fine contributions, ‘Un + Une’ is just like a pastry: it looks delicious, but it doesn’t give you a satisfied feeling.