French film reviews page# 3

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The Names of Love
Le Nom des Gens
This love story comes with a political background and is laced with comedy. The main stars are Jacques Gamblin, as middle-aged Jewish scientist Arthur Martin and Sara Forestier, as Bahia, a sexy, young Algerian political activist.  Bahiaworks on converting right-wing men to her ideology by whispering messages as she sleeps with them and Martin specialises in Avian Flu.  When she takes him on as a likely candidate, the outcome is very unlikely. 
3/5                                                                   comment on this movie

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Heartbreaker
L’Arnacoeur
Funny, light romantic comedy beautifully set in Southern France. Alex (Romain Duris, with the help of his sister and brother-in-law, uses his charm to earn a living by breaking up relationships on behalf of unhappy family members.  However, when one of his tasks is to stop Juliette (Vanessa Paradis) marrying an Englishman, all does not go according to plan.  There are plenty of antics to bring a smile to your face.
3.5/5                                                                  comment on this movie

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Sarah’s Key
Elle s’appelait Sarah
 
In a mix of English and French, this drama is woven around the little covered Vichy France, Vel d’Hiv’ war story. As Paris based American, present day journalist, Julia Armand (Kristin Scott Thomas) researches the horrific 1942 rounding up of 13,000 Paris Jews by French authorities in Vichy France, she finds a tragic link to the event in own life.  Along with Julia the story is also told by Sarah Starzynski (Melsuine Mayance as a child), whose family is a part of the roundup.   
 
The film presents the chilling facts of this horrific event by using a story line to bring history to life. Once more Kristin Scott Thomas is superb. 
 
4/5                                                                 comment on this movie

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Love Crime
(Crime d’amour)
 
Absorbing thriller around the activities of a multi-national company.   Kristen Scott Thomas is  chillingly ruthless corporate executive, Christine who meets her match when she takes advantage of her executive assistant Isabelle, played by Ludivine Sagnier.
4/5
August, 2011                                                   comment on this movie