La délicatesse (2011)

A French woman mourning over the death of her husband three years prior is courted by a Swedish co-worker.

Directors:

David Foenkinos, Stéphane Foenkinos

Writers:

David Foenkinos (scenario), David Foenkinos (novel)

Stars:

Audrey Tautou, François Damiens, Bruno Todeschini

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Audrey Tautou	...	Nathalie Kerr
François Damiens	...	Markus Lundell
Bruno Todeschini	...	Charles
Mélanie Bernier	...	Chloé, la secrétaire de Nathalie
Joséphine de Meaux	...	Sophie
Pio Marmaï	...	François
Monique Chaumette	...	Madeleine, la grand-mère
Marc Citti	...	Pierre
Alexandre Pavloff	...	Benoît (as Alexandre Pavloff de la Comédie Française)
Vittoria Scognamiglio	...	La mère de François
Olivier Cruveiller	...	Le père de François
Ariane Ascaride	...	La mère de Nathalie
Christophe Malavoy	...	Le père de Nathalie
Audrey Fleurot	...	Ingrid, la secrétaire de Charles
Bénédicte-Lala Ernoult	...	L'ouvreuse du théâtre (as Bénédicte Ernoult)

Storyline

A French woman mourning over the death of her husband three years prior is courted by a Swedish co-worker.

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Plot Keywords:

co worker | loss of husband | overcoming grief | loss of loved one | office romance | 

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Taglines:

A new romantic comedy about Love, Fate and other Delicacies.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some strong language

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French Swedish

Release Date:

21 December 2011 (France)

Also Known As:

La delicadeza

Filming Locations:

Gare de Montgeroult - Courcelles, Rue du Moulin, Montgeroult, Val d'Oise, France

Box Office

Budget:

€7,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

2.4.7. Films,France 2 Cinéma,StudioCanal

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Markus Lundl: Elle me permet d'être la meilleure version de moi même.
[She let me be the best possible version of myself]

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

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Soundtracks

I Call It Love
Written and performed by Émilie Simon

User Reviews

'It enables me to be the best version of me even.'

'La délicatesse' is a lovely French dish written by David Foenkinos and directed by both David and Stéphane Foenkinos. Much of the success of this slightly to the edge story of the vagaries of love and life as they intertwine is due to the presence of the irresistible charm and charisma of lead actress Audrey Tautou. She is able to take this story that at times seems impossibly off track and keep it grounded in her sense of lightness and focus, making us believe that what actually happens to this character is truly quite possible.

Nathalie Kerr (Audrey Tautou) is a successful businesswoman who happens to meet the rather unkempt but impish François (Pio Marmaï, an irresistibly charming actor) quite by accident (and an order of apricot juice) in a café. Nathalie is literally swept off her feet and rather quickly this spontaneous meeting of hearts results in blissful marriage. The perfect scenario ends tragically when François is accidentally kill. Nathalie's heart seems irreparable and she trudges through life bathed in grief and longing. Even her handsome boss Charles (Bruno Todeschini) can't woo her: Nathalie is frank in her objection that Charles is a married man. Then the door to her office opens and a subordinate nerdy appearing geek named Markus Lundi (François Damiens) walks in and Nathalie impetuously greets him with a passionate kiss - an act she represses thinking that such a deed was impossible. And this apparent one- sided accidental occurrence lightens Markus' life and he is committed to falling in love with the resistant Nathalie. The 'courtship' leads to Nathalie's recognition that love and happiness can happen in the most unexpected places and ways.

Summarizing the story makes it sound trite and bordering on silly, but it is the delicately French manner in which it is told that makes the film so refreshingly endearing. The entire cast is first class (director Stéphane Foenkinos is best known as one of France's best casting directors!) but it is the glimmering lightness of Tautou and Marmaï and Damiens that make it sail. A perfect Valentine.

Grady Harp