Published via Ecency

(source: tmdb.org)

When audience comes to theatre expecting one thing and ends up watching something completely different, this usually doesn’t bode well for the general quality or reputation of a film. Exceptions of this rule can be found in cinema traditions that tend to avoid Hollywood or Hollywood-like cliches or with authors with talent to surprise audience in effective way. One of such authors is French screenwriter and director Laetitia Colombani who ultimately earned a lot of praise for her feature 2002 debut He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not.

The film is based on Colombani’s script, which in 2001 received special award by French Ministry of Culture. The protagonist, played by Audrey Tatou, is Angelique, an art student in love with Loïc Le Garec (played by Samuel Le Bihan), a surgeon a decade her senior. He is married and his wife Rachel (played by Isabelle Care) is expecting a baby, but Angelique is nevertheless convinced that he would leave his family for her. She keeps showering Loïc with gifts and stands by him despite his refusal to come with her on vacation in Italy, and even when he is arrested for assaulting and causing the death of Sonia Jasmin (played by Nathalie Krebs), one of his patients. As disturbing events continue to unfold, Angelique becomes increasingly depressed and contemplates ending her life.

He Loves Me.. He Loves Me Not starts as romantic comedy and is deliberately made to look syrupy and Hollywood-like almost to self-parodic levels. This is precise the reason why Audrey Tatou was cast in the main role, because she builds her performance as well as viewers’ expectations on the iconic title role in Amelie, her biggest hit. To say that those expectations are subverted would be an understatement. Colombani, however, handles direction very well and keeps tight pace, making the film easy to digest within hour and half of running time. The gradual, but unmistakable shift from romantic comedy to serious drama and even darker genre territory is provided effectively. Plot twist that happens around the half of film is not exactly unexpected, but it is handled well. Tatou is great in her role, just like Samuel Le Bihan, who confirmed his status as one of the biggest French stars of his time. He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not proves to be stylish and well-made. What is even more important, it doesn’t insult viewers’ intelligence. The film could have worked even better if not for succumbing to Hollywood-like cliches at the very ends. Feature debut of Laetitia Colombani nevertheless deserves recommendation even for those viewers who don’t like too much experimenting with different genres.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)