Coeurs (2006)

Director:

Alain Resnais

Writers:

Alan Ayckbourn (play)
Jean-Michel Ribes (writer)

Release Date:

22 November 2006 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

For six strangers in search of love, the City of Lights can be a very lonely place.

Plot:

In Paris, six people all look for love, despite typically having their romantic aspirations dashed at every turn.

Plot Keywords:

Bartender | Video Tape | Bible | Flower | Love

Awards:

5 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Sabine Azéma	...	Charlotte
Isabelle Carré	...	Gaëlle
Laura Morante	...	Nicole
Pierre Arditi	...	Lionel
André Dussollier	...	Thierry
Lambert Wilson	...	Dan
Claude Rich	...	Arthur (voice)
Françoise Gillard	...	Speakerine TV
Anne Kessler	...	Présentatrice émission TV
Roger Mollien	...	Soldat poète émission TV
Florence Muller	...	Critique d'art émission TV
Michel Vuillermoz	...	Architecte émission TV

Also Known As:

Private Fears in Public Places (International: English title) (USA) (festival title)
Cuori (Italy)
Petites peurs partagées (France) (working title)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | France:U | Italy:T | Germany:12 | Brazil:14 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M

Company:

Soudaine Compagnie

Trivia:

There is a Scarborough poster in Thierry's home. The English seaside resort of Scarborough is the home of the play's author, Sir Alan Ayckbourn.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Charlotte has the tomato soup thrown at her by Arthur, the front of her blouse and sweater have large reddish stains on them. When Lionel returns home and is talking to her, the stains have disappeared.

What can we be apart from what we are?

Relationships. They can be funny and sad. There is the relationship of Charlotte (Sabine Azéma) with her co-worker Thierry (André Dussollier). She is very religious and lends him a video of religious music. Of course, when the TV program cuts off, he sees something I am sure she didn't mean for him to see. Or, did she? It is not clear.

Then there is Charlotte and Lionel's (Pierre Arditi) father Arthur (Claude Rich). She is working as a caregiver in the evenings and Arthur, whom we never see, is one cantankerous old bastard. he throws soup on her, speaks foully, and screams at her.

Lionel, a bartender, has to deal with his father, and with Dan (Lambert Wilson), who got kicked out of the Army six months ago and is getting hell from his fiancée, Nicole (Laura Morante) for not finding a job. He spends his time getting plastered.

Thierry and Charlotte are funny the next day discussing the tape. Charlotte has no idea what she left on the end. Thierry is looking forward to another tape. He is not disappointed. Of course, after the second tape, he moves forward with disastrous results, but Charlotte exposes her secret to Lionel and it is just the thing to shut him up. Naturally, she has to do a lot of praying afterward.

Like I said, there is a lot that is funny, and a whole lot that is sad, but isn't that the way relationships are? Alain Resnais got a lot out of some very talented actors and presented a film that was thoroughly enjoyable.