Gazon maudit (1995)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Josiane Balasko

Writers:

Patrick Aubrée (writer)
Josiane Balasko (writer)

Release Date:

19 January 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Lesbian | Bath | Lesbianism | Female Frontal Nudity | Nudity

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Bushwhacked
French Twist (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and language.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:15 (re-rating) (2005) | UK:18 (original rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Avignon, Vaucluse, France

Company:

Canal+

Trivia:

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

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: 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.

Soundtrack:

A WHITER SHADE OF PALE

previsible, but light and fun

Here's a film which is definitely outside the box for American audiences. French films are usually an acquired taste and this one is no exception. This is a delightful light comedy about a married couple whose life change upon the arrival of a butch lesbian to their lives. You don't have to be a genius to guess what's coming. Nevertheless, the movie is funny, it's done with great taste and sensibility, and even though the characters are not 100% belivable, they are not stereotypical. Victoria Abril is delicious, playing the wife whose disenchantment of the married life leads her to explore a lesbian affair. What I liked in particular about this comedy, is that sexual orientation never becomes the main issue in the movie, and it's really secondary to the human relationships that develop in this bizarre triangle. The script could have been a little less linear, but the characters are well developed and well played. Overall, French twist is a fun light comedy which probably wouldn't raise an eyebrow in Europe but will need a very open minded audience in the US. Unfortunately we're not ready yet.