Barnie et ses petites contrariétés (2001)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Bruno Chiche

Writers:

Bruno Chiche (writer)
Alain Layrac (scenario)

Release Date:

21 February 2001 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Barnie lives in Calais but works in London. Everyday, he takes the Eurostar to go to his office. Although he is married to Lucie...

Plot Keywords:

Gay Interest | Character Name In Title

Cast

Fabrice Luchini	...	Barnie (Barnard Barnich)
Nathalie Baye	...	Lucie Barnich
Marie Gillain	...	Margot
Hugo Speer	...	Mark
Serge Hazanavicius	...	Alexandre
Mélanie Bernier	...	Cécile
Warren Zavatta	...	Bo
Thomas Chabrol	...	Orient-Express steward
Debbie Chazen	...	Jenny
Ben O'Sullivan	...	Jeremie
Olivia Guillet	...	Telephone operator
Victoria Grulich	...	Marketing agency client
Juliet Cowan	...	Hostess

Also Known As:

Barnie's Minor Annoyances (USA) (festival title)
Nous deux pour la vie (France) (working title)
Train-train (France) (working title)

Runtime:

80 min | Japan:85 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

France:U | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

Calais, Pas-de-Calais, France

Company:

Assise Productions

Trivia:

Visa d'exploitation en France # 92587

Soundtrack:

Happy Birthday

A good surprise

I expected the worse from "Barnie". Maybe because of Fabrice Luchini, a very french actor who always play the same part: himself. But this time he gets away from his usual "parisian-intimist" movies to bring us a real comedy. And for once, you laugh; not the cheesy way, not the Rohmerian-intellectual way but in a spontaneous way that makes you feel good and reconciliates you with french cinema (as it still remains VERY french).

Thanks to first time writer-director Bruno Chiche who just found the right balance between subtlety and fun, the film doesn't hesitate to go further than the average "marivaudage" film. And if the first part of the film in London with all its coincidences is a bit artificial, the second part in Barnie's house makes you forgive it as it solves everything in a few delightful scenes. The third part in the Orient Express is by far the weakest to me. It seems as if director Chiche absolutely wanted his movie to end as a Capra comedy, but his cynical character shouldn't have had a chance, and if so, then he should have been given a chance get from the audience a bit of compassion.

Anyway you get out of the theater very satisfied. For a first film, Bruno Chiche shows a lot of ease in every kind of scene and gives a lot of rhythm to the whole film. He is very well helped with his cast that's true (except for Marie Gillain, even if very pretty), but his camera, when not inspired is always efficient. It has to be said as it is rare enough in a french comedy.