Drama starring Catherine Deneuve and Catherine Frot. Hospital midwife Claire is surprised when she is contacted by Béatrice, the woman whose affair with Claire's father caused a family tragedy. In bad health and plagued with money worries, Béatrice needs Claire's help, but can the younger woman put the past behind her?
Writer/director Martin Provost, (Séraphine, Violette), presents a little light character sketching for a pair of esteemed actresses in this droll dramedy that was specifically penned for Catherines Frot and Deneuve. Frot plays dedicated hospital midwife Claire, who is contacted by eccentric Béatrice (Deneuve), the woman who ended the affair that drove her father to suicide. Reuniting after 35 years, the pair hardly hit it off. However, with her dream job in a humble Parisian clinic under threat, the eminently sensible Claire feels the call of duty when the fast-living Béatrice announces that she has an inoperable brain tumour. The by-play between the stars is riveting, with Deneuve boldly playing against type as a gluttonous, gambling harridan. Moreover, it's good to see a film exploring midlife ennui from a female perspective for a change. But the subplots involving Claire's relationships with her medical student son (Quentin Dolmaire) and a friendly trucker (Olivier Gourmet) prove less inspired, despite a couple of sweet moments.
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Béatrice Sobolevski | Catherine Deneuve |
| Claire | Catherine Frot |
| Simon | Quentin Dolmaire |
| Rolande | Mylène Demongeot |
| Cécile | Pauline Etienne |
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Director | Martin Provost |
