Beautiful Lies

Gallic star power makes this creaky romcom tolerable but best not to set your expectations too high. Audrey Tautou brings sweetness and light to an otherwise not-that-likeable protagonist, a hairdressing salon owner who resolves to cheer up her mum (Nathalie Baye) by prevailing on the shop handyman (Sami Bouajila) to tout himself as gigolo for her.

This is slightly unsettling, since Bouajila – working wonders in a virtually unplayable role – is smitten with Tautou and the author of an anonymous love letter to her. We’re supposed to be drawn into the plot’s would-be witty complications but the script grinds its way through sundry reversals, initial jollity giving way to plodding rigmarole. Yet you certainly can’t fault the cast and the film’s seaside setting of Sète looks quite lovely.