French Film

Not a good film by a long stretch, but there’s something so harmless about this debut directorial effort (from a script by Aschlin ‘Scenes of a Sexual Nature’ Ditta) that to pull it apart would be like savaging a child’s first attempt at storywriting. Ditta’s awkward script contrasts the lives of two young, comfortable north London couples – both going through relationship crises – with the musings on l’amour of a French film director, played by Eric Cantona, whom one of the four, a journalist, is charged with interviewing.

The film trips merrily through upscale locations and finds its feet after some shaky beginnings as director and writer try hard to justify their odd concept. Cantona’s waffling is mildly amusing; the cast, including the always-genial Anne-Marie Duff, do a fair job; and there are moments of truth to do with deluded relationships. But the attempt to contrast ‘French’ and ‘British’ attitudes is no more than a red herring.