Bienvenue chez les Rozes

This is a rare gem that gradually rotates the viewers' perspective of the characters 180 degrees, leaving us fascinated, slightly repulsed, and thoroughly amused. I was actually grinning when it ended, a rare response to a dark comedy.

Two convicts have escaped while being transported back to prison, and find refuge with the Rozes, who seem completely at ease with the situation. We gradually discover why this is so. I've been bored, or at best left unimpressed, by so many French films that set out to satirize middle class family values. Perhaps fortuitously, Welcome to the Roses succeeds where the others have failed. I think it's because the Rozes are not merely placeholders in the plot symbolizing Everyman, nor are they initially presented as individuals so flawed that the film must teach them a lesson. Instead, they're affable, even lovable. We all want the Rozes as neighbors. Be careful what you wish for!

Monsieur and Madame Roze, Andre Wilms and Carole Bouquet, take a plot that could have devolved into incredulity and make us believe that what we see is their normality. So too does Clemence Poesy, who as daughter Magali presents a striking figure in this film. The younger escapee Gilbert (Lorant Deutsch) surely wins the Strongest Moral Fiber of the Year Award. And Jean Dujardin (MG) eventually wins our empathy, convincing us that bad luck, more so than bad judgement, has brought him to this cuckoo's nest.

It's just kooky enough, and just serious enough, and we're left with hopes that Justice will prevail. Enjoy!