In the House

Film

Drama

In the House

Time Out rating:

<strong>Rating: </strong>4/5

User ratings:

<strong>Rating: </strong>4/5
Rate this  

Time Out says

Thu Oct 11 2012

The prolific François Ozon follows unabashed crowdpleaser ‘Potiche’ with a social satire that’s no less fun, but delivers rather more substance in its sardonic portraiture and pointed self-awareness.

Germain (the ever-waspish Fabrice Luchini) is an old-fashioned teacher at a trendy secondary school who discovers a renewed purpose in the intriguing prose delivered by student Claude (effortlessly poised newcomer Ernst Umhauer). This mischievous outsider turns his fascination with a classmate’s seemingly ideal bourgeois household – and in particular Emmanuelle Seigner’s yummy maman – into a series of weekly writing exercises. Germain seizes upon the pages, but what does his eagerness to sharpen up the writing tell us about his own stalled creativity, his petty prejudices, and even his arid marriage to art gallery manager Jeanne (an impeccable Kristin Scott Thomas)?

Adapting a play by Juan Mayorga, Ozon treats Claude’s serial misadventures as a sort of suave Buñuelian soap opera, yet while we see the interloper’s increasingly daring incursions play out, we’re also treated to teacher’s ‘improved’ versions of events, and it’s soon a real tease distinguishing fact from fiction…if any of it’s ‘fact’ at all.

There’s fun to be had from the pomposity and pretensions of Luchini and Scott-Thomas, yet the surrounding frolics also hint at the hidden agendas behind the stories which fascinate us, and indeed how those stories play up to a distanced, even unhealthy curiosity about the lives of others. Plenty to ponder then, but you can also simply enjoy its gossipy fizz. A witty, naughty, insight-packed provocation which never takes its seriousness too seriously.  

Author: Trevor Johnston

16

Comments

Add +

Release details

UK release:

Fri Mar 29

Duration:

105 mins

Cast and crew

Director:

François Ozon

Screenwriter:

François Ozon

Cast:

Fabrice Luchini, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ernst Umhauer

Cinemas showing In the House

Filter

  1. Filter

Search

Odeon Panton Street

Panton St, SW1Y 4DP Show map/details

Show / hide showtimes
  • Address:

    Odeon Panton Street Panton St
    SW1Y 4DP

Map

  • Sun May 19:

    • 20:40

  • Mon May 20:

    • 20:40

  • Tue May 21:

    • 20:40

  • Wed May 22:

    • 20:40

  • Thu May 23:

    • 20:40
Share your thoughts
  4. * mandatory fields

Comments & ratings

Rated as: 4/5 (8 ratings)

  • So many references to Francois Truffaut's films, I thought i was in a pastiche reality show 21c version of them , check out "Argent de Poche" for the lonely boy with a father in a wheelchair longing for a mother's touch and fantasising about his friend's blonde mother, longing to be "in their house", also les 400 coups and the passage of Balzac Antoine Doinel copies put for his teacher , the stolen typewriter , the urge to write -all the thoughts and figures are there waiting for ozon to rehash them in a shiny , rather than grainy way.Loved the film , but what do you think of the Truffaut ?

    Francesmatth Sat Apr 20
    Report

  • Yes, a film that makes one proud to be a European that serves up such a smörgåsbord of films instead of the one dimensional films that pour out of Hollywood. Of course Kristin Scott Thomas makes any film she is in and oozes sexuality and that "je ne sais quoi" that keeps us coming back for more. The music works well in the background and foreground too and had me reaching for Spotify to listen to it again. A good night out that melts some of the sang-froid I have against the French.

    Paul Sun Apr 14
    Rated as: 4/5
    Report

  • An enjoyable and amusing romp. Re the TO web site, worth emailing them to attend to it's shortcomings. They are aware of some of the flaws.

    Sutton Mon Apr 8
    Rated as: 4/5
    Report

  • I loved the film, and could not stop thinking about the strong reference to the film "Six Degrees of Separations" which also deals with class issues, and has strong references to Catcher in the Rye. Has anyone else spotted the reference?

    nkarol Sun Apr 7
    Report

  • Loved it! It was sassy, smart and very funny! Agree about the website, finding where films are playing is a chore now and easier done outside timeout's site.

    UglyGeezer Sun Apr 7
    Rated as: 5/5
    Report

  • Over-rated... Over-wordy ...and over here. Dull as dish water.

    ARCHGATE Fri Apr 5
    Report

  • Well constructed albeit rather tedious whimsy.

    critique Fri Apr 5
    Rated as: 3/5
    Report

  • Finding where films are on is relatively easy on http://www.ents24.com.

    Flâneur Mon Apr 1
    Report

  • Enjoyed very much. Curious to read the play now. Glad to see Emanuelle Seigner back.

    Francesca Mon Apr 1
    Rated as: 5/5
    Report

  • I agree about timeout new website - the old website was easy to see which cinemas the listed film was screening.

    Sam Sun Mar 31
    Report
  1. 1
  2. 2
  • Hotwise
  • Cool brands
  • Star