Chouquette

I really had no idea what I was getting into when I sat to watch this, and I have to say, this comedy-drama carries itself with humor and storytelling that's far, far more dry than I could have guessed from the premise alone. That premise portends fraught interpersonal dynamics, and that's just what we get even from the start, but there's a sardonic air here that comes close to being outright bitter. Peppered with notes that are more conventionally wry, I can understand how this has not necessarily met with especially warm reception, for by any measure it's an oddball, almost seeming to carve out its own singular tone along the way. In fairness, levity and storytelling alike start to gel more as the runtime approaches the halfway point; they begin to take a form that's more familiar, and we see what 'Chouquette' is doing as the characters come together and form an unlikely, offbeat, adversarial sort of bond. There's earnest substance here - but the trouble is that's is rather hard to ever get a beat on what precisely the movie is trying to achieve, and the the tableau just comes off as a little too incohesive to have any major impact.

I think there are some really smart ideas in the writing, to the point that I'd be curious to read the novel this is based on, and Patrick Godard illustrates a practiced hand as director. The filming locations are lovely, and even more so when realized through the crisp, vivid eyes of cinematographer Lubomir Bakchev. I'm inclined to believe the cast is strongest of all in this case: Sabine Azéma, Michèle Laroque, even young Antonin Brunelle-Rémy; Michèle Moretti, in a smaller supporting part, is a minor joy. All around this is well made from a technical standpoint, and all on hand turn in fine work. Only - overall the picture is maybe a bit too low-key and restrained for its own good, extending to unifying themes and notions that are treated too meagerly, such that they never feel meaningful. I recognize the structure of an overarching vision to Emilie Frèche's novel, and to the screenplay of filmmaker Godard and co-writer Natalie Carter, but there's a difference between knowing a vision is present, and seeing or feeling it. I have a hard time seeing or feeling the vision of 'Chouquette.'

I actually do like this; ultimately one can discern the territory it's playing in, and I admire what the feature trying to do. I just don't find it to bear sufficient strength, as a whole, to make any significant impression. The value 'Chouquette' can claim only just barely keeps it floating above middling indiffrerence, and it would have benefited immensely from more robust comedy and/or drama to anchor engagement, and provide more flavor. Such as it is I think this earns a soft recommendation for a quiet day, but the fact remains that there are countless other titles that more specifically demand viewership, and there's no special reason to particularly look to this. Watch if you like, and hopefully you'll appreciate it at least as much or maybe more than I did, but don't go out of your way for it.

A "Chouquette" is a ball of choux pastry sprinkled with sugar" ;in the movie ,it's the nickname a grandson gives to his granny ,a boy who is not overly fond of grandma ;he repeats several times :'I wish you died ".

Given the poor imdb rating ,and the fact that both actresses are not among my favorites ,I thought twice before watching it,but as nobody had reviewed it to this day on this site ...

I expected the worst ,and I have to make amends : it's not that much bad , there is a beautiful cinematography which takes advantage of the splendid Breton landscapes ; a welcome touch of black humor ; and a grumpy sullen Sabine Azema ,who never cracks a smile ,makes it a (very minor) winner.

At the beginning of the movie , the viewer might think he chose the wrong film: pictures of outer space ,of the universe (is it a sci-fi work?),and a questioning about the end of the world (and thus human destiny);it might seem exaggerated ,the connection with the movie being thin and boiled down to this : grandad (whose nickname is Gepetto) is fond of cosmology.

This is essentially a road movie ;the first scenes take place in Chouquette's desirable mansion (with a servant );she is about to celebrate her husband's birthday and she has invited several persons,only one of whom turns up : Diane, her hubby's mistress ,("I invited you for I thought you would not show up"); as for the hubby/lover ,he is nowhere to be seen.Then begins a long drive along the roads of Brittany ,involving both women , the grandson and the mistress's mother they collect in an old people's home ;the conversations often hints at death ,which may seem unusual is this kind of work ; the scene between Chouquette and the person in charge of the holiday camp is totally silent ,which is rare nowadays.We often feel the "drag it is getting old" ;an embittered Chouquette finds it hard to drive her rival's mom ,not only because she's burdensome ,but also because she represents all that she will become in a time not so far away now..."your time is not the same as my mom's " says the brat ,who knows both women hate each other and that her grandma's rival is younger .

That said ,there's also bad taste and poor ideas : Chouquette's pet is called F........ cause the servant cannot pronounce "Phoque " ( = seal in French); plenty of American songs (with one exception by Gainsbourg) which bear no relation to the plot ,the biggest flaw of the contemporary French scene; all savor American food (made by a French cook) whereas Brittany makes the best crepes in the world ;and the most obnoxious moment : a radio announces "the death of Bob Dylan " ,a stupid hoax which was spread by twitter last year;the censorship should have cut that!

As an elderly english lover of french film, culture, and landscape, this film was so inspiring. I was seeking the film locations, which were somewhere in Brittany and came to this site for information. This year, 3 of my french musical connections have died, and was feeling despondent, but this film totally lifted my spirits and I have resolved to return next year. The film is full of subtle twists and for me as I had to partly rely on subtitles, therefor I am sure missing some of the dialogue clues as the plot developed. The characters are are wonderfully caste, and although the third of the 4 generations is only present as a telephone answer machine the relationships are cleverly developed. The scenery and filming is beautiful. It is great to have a film which is unpredictable and not dumbed down. Thanks to all concerned in the production, off to watch it again on a bigger screen. Up there with portrait of a lady on fire .IMHO.