Le Week-End (2013)

A British couple return to Paris many years after their honeymoon there in an attempt to rejuvenate their marriage.

Director:

Roger Michell

Writer:

Hanif Kureishi

Stars:

Lindsay Duncan, Jim Broadbent, Jeff Goldblum

2 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lindsay Duncan	...	Meg
Jim Broadbent	...	Nick
Igor Gotesman	...	Montmartre Receptionist
Olivier Audibert	...	Taxi Driver
Sophie-Charlotte Husson	...	Plaza Receptionist
Etienne Dalibert	...	Hotel Porter
Mauricette Laurence	...	Old Lady in Church
Gabriel Mailhebiau	...	Chez Dumonet Waiter
Violaine Baccon	...	Girl on motorbike
Damien Favreau	...	La Dame de Pic Maitre D.
Jeff Goldblum	...	Morgan
Déborah Amsellem	...	Hotel Shop Assistant
Stéphane De Fraia	...	Waiter at Morgan's Apartment
Brice Beaugier	...	Robert Ertel
Charlotte Léo	...	Dominique Ertel

Storyline

Meg, a teacher, and husband Nick, a philosophy lecturer who may just be about to get the push on the eve of retirement, spend a week-end in Paris to celebrate their thirtieth anniversary. He is staid, annoying his foul-mouthed wife who wants to turn the holiday into a series of exciting new experiences, booking into a hotel that stretches their budgets and running off from a restaurant without paying. She is also averse to his touching her and what was meant to be a belated second honeymoon is a depressing affair, full of arguments - including one about the son who has recently left home to live in squalor and whom Meg does not want to return. By chance they meet an old university friend of Nick, Morgan, an American high-flyer who invites them to a party where Meg can still turn men's heads and Nick has a conversation with Morgan's young son, leading him to believe that he is not as badly off as he had presumed. Ultimately there appears to be hope for the marriage.

---

Plot Keywords:

englishman abroad | couple | holiday | weekend trip | sightseeing | 

---

Taglines:

Nick & Meg are returning to Paris for a second honeymoon... and a last chance.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

M

Did You Know?

Trivia

Fourth collaboration of Hanif Kureishi and Roger Michell. The story was developed in 2005 after a weekend trip to Montmartre, Paris.

---

Quotes

Meg: The other day, I'll have you know, a young man... tried to pick me up
Nick: That doesn't surprise me... You're hot.
Meg: Thank you
Nick: Hot, but cold.

---

Connections

References Bande à part (1964)

---

Soundtracks

Vero Valse
Composed by Rene Briaval
Published by Premiere Music Group
Performed by Coco Briaval
Courtesy of Premiere Music Group

User Reviews

Genuinely absorbing

The trailer hinted at a charming romp around Paris; reviews suggested something darker. In reality it proved to be a very honest, challenging film, which refused to pop love-in-marriage into a convenient genre-box.

I can understand completely that it wasn't many people's cup of tea. Certainly not a cosy feel-good movie for the growing sixtysomething demographic that presumably ensured finance for the movie to be made. But it your relationship is resilient – or you are single – there is pleasure to be had in this grown-up story.

Yes, it was painful to watch at times, but delightful at others – a bit like life. Yes you wanted to smack them both for being so... annoying. No, you probably wouldn't invite them round to dinner without a certain amount of sighing. But I defy you to work out, before the end, whether they themselves would work out before the end. And I trust it will make a star, at last, of the luminous Lindsey Duncan.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK France

Language:

English French

Release Date:

27 February 2014 (New Zealand)

Also Known As:

Le Weekend

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$43,608, 16 March 2014

Gross USA:

$2,225,098

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,652,213

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film4, Free Range Films, Le Bureau

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1