French Twist (1995)
"Gazon maudit" (original title)

After learning of her husband's infidelities, a housewife invites an itinerant lesbian to move in with them. None of their lives will ever be the same again.

Director:

Josiane Balasko

Writers:

Patrick Aubrée, Josiane Balasko,

Stars:

Victoria Abril, Josiane Balasko, Alain Chabat

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Victoria Abril	...	Loli
Josiane Balasko	...	Marijo
Alain Chabat	...	Laurent Lafaye
Ticky Holgado	...	Antoine
Catherine Hiegel	...	Dany
Catherine Samie	...	The Prostitute
Catherine Lachens	...	Sopha, the Boss
Katrine Boorman	...	Emily Crumble
Telsche Boorman	...	Dorothy Crumble
Véronique Barrault	...	Vero
Sylvie Audcoeur	...	Ingrid
Michèle Bernier	...	Solange
Maureen Diot	...	Cristelle
Miguel Bosé	...	Diego, the Young Man
Jean-Luc Violet	...	Barman

Storyline

Laurent is the local estate agent, a job that offers easy opportunties for his womanising. His wife beautiful wife Loli looks after his home and two children unaware of his many affairs. However, their world is turned upside down by the arrival of Marijo, an itinerant lesbian whose minivan breaks down nearby. The neglected Loli is drawn to the sensitive Marijo and when she learns of Laurent's infidelities, invites Marijo to move in with them. The arrangement takes an emotional toll on each of them, exacerbated by the arrival of a figure from Marijo's past. As they struggle with the situation and each other, all of their lives are changed forever.

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Plot Keywords:

infidelity | lesbian | adultery | bike | extramarital affair | 

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Taglines:

A scorned wife. An outrageous affair. The perfect marriage.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality and language

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French Spanish

Release Date:

19 January 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

French Twist

Filming Locations:

Avignon, Vaucluse, France

Box Office

Gross:

$1,400,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, Les Films Flam, Renn Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The French title (literally "Dreadful Lawn"), is a crude expression for pubic hair.

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Goofs

At one moment, Laurent and Antoine are going to bicycle together and stop to have lunch. Laurent gets drunk and when he starts riding again his bike in a rather dangerous manner, Antoine goes after him and shouts "Alain, fais pas le con!" ("Alain, don't be stupid!"), calling the actor Alain Chabat by his real name instead of his character's name, Laurent.

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Connections

Referenced in Empire of the Censors (1995)

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Soundtracks

"A WHITER SHADE OF PALE"
Performed by Francis Agbo
Words and music by K. Reid & G. Brooker

User Reviews

Very crazy movie

This movie starts of with a seemingly normal 'man cheats on woman-woman gets back at man' story. But as I kept watching it, this movie kept getting crazier and crazier. I am not sure if it is supposed to be a comedy, a tragedy, or just a drama. But I decided if I take it as a dark-ish comedy it will be better received. All and all Miss Abril did very well, as well as Mr. Chabat. The only loss in skill was from Miss Balasko, who was not very believable. But it was crazy and funny in a weird way. It was nice that it was only just over an hour and a half, cause the madness probably could not have gone on too much more. It is a decent way to spend an hour and a half, but once is enough.