Pas de scandale

There are many levels of emotional drama that are much more common in French cinema than in the United States. While American moviegoers tend to demand action and fast-paced dialogue in their films, French moviegoers are much more comfortable with films that explore the ways people deal with relationships, especially when they also poke a little fun at society.

This particular film does both in a way that is totally French, and simply cannot be understood in an American context. It is serious and yet it is light. Readjusting to life after serving a term in prison which he felt he did not deserve, a French executive mocks conventions even as he struggles with finding himself.

It's a good-natured kind of French cynicism that delights and annoys at the same time. From mocking people in a restaurant to wondering what's up at work to an innocent flirtation with a beautiful young woman, the focus is on the emotions, with a depth seldom found in American films.

Enjoyable for those who are tired of more of the same.