Venus Beauty (1999)

Employees of a beauty parlor in search of love and happiness.

Director:

Tonie Marshall

Writers:

Tonie Marshall (screenplay), Tonie Marshall (dialogue)

Stars:

Nathalie Baye, Bulle Ogier, Samuel Le Bihan

8 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nathalie Baye	...	Angèle Piana
Bulle Ogier	...	Madame Nadine, la patronne
Samuel Le Bihan	...	Antoine DuMont
Jacques Bonnaffé	...	Jacques
Mathilde Seigner	...	Samantha
Audrey Tautou	...	Marie
Robert Hossein	...	L'aviateur
Marie Rivière	...	La cliente aux bottines fourées
Edith Scob	...	La cliente aux taches sur les mains
Hélène Fillières	...	La fiancée d'Antoine (as Hélène Filières)
Brigitte Roüan	...	Madame Marianne
Claire Nebout	...	La cliente exhibitioniste
Micheline Presle	...	Tante Maryse
Emmanuelle Riva	...	Tante Lyda
Elli Medeiros	...	Mlle Evelyne

Storyline

Madam Nadine manages with pride the "Vénus beauté" Salon which offers relaxation, massage and make-up services. The owner and her three beauticians: Samantha, Marianne and Angèle are pros. Contrary to her friend Marianne, who still dreams of the big day, Angèle no longer believes in love. Marie, the youngest of the three employees, discovers love in the hands of a sixty year-old former pilot, who risks everything...

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Plot Keywords:

love | loneliness | new year's eve | christmas | alienated sexuality | 

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Taglines:

Welcome to the Venus Beauty Institute where love, innocence and sex are a sight to behold.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality/nudity and language

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

3 February 1999 (France)

Also Known As:

Venus Beauty Institute

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$32,150, 29 October 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$416,464, 23 September 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

Agat Films & Cie, Arte France Cinéma, Tabo Tabo Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Veteran French actress Micheline Presle, who cameos as a spinster aunt, is actually the mother of director Tonie Marshall.

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Quotes

Angele: When you smile I find you handsome.
Jacques: That's because you know my soul.

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Connections

Followed by Venus and Apollo (2005)

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Soundtracks

Rilax No3
Written by N. Neidhart, S. Storch

User Reviews

Very interesting

Venus Beauté Institut is clearly one of the best films of the year in France, and not due to the fact it won the César as best film; it truly is a good film, contrary to what many people think. For starters the film has an excellent screenplay, and everything fits in quite nicely. It was very well directed by Tonie Marshall, in a simple, efficient and clear way (if you're looking for flashy directing look elsewhere). The story is also quite simple, but anyone (including men) can relate to it, for it deals with the most common human emotions: love, loneliness, friendship, sorrow, and happiness; and what's truly inspiring is the simple and humorous way these emotions have been conveyed. As for the acting, I can only say one thing: what an incredible cast. Nathalie Baye was superb as the lonely Angèle, and the entire supporting cast is excellent: the socialite and oppressive Madame Nadine (Bulle Ogier), the sweet and naive Marie (Audrey Tautou), the troubled Samanthe (Mathilde Seigner), and the breathtaking Madame Buisse (Claire Nadeau). Also, this is not the typical art house French film that many people detest, it is a very simple human statement, wonderfully taken to the screen.

I recommend it.