The Four of Us

A French (presumably theatrical release) film which closely follows the later formula of American soft-core cable films of the Nineties. The version I saw was dubbed into English (which I found quite distracting; I prefer subtitles) and re-named "Sensual Awakening". It was taped from Showtime many years ago. The plot, such as it is, was adequately described by the previous commentator. With the dubbing it is hard to judge an actress's performance, so I cannot tell if these actresses, none of whom I had ever heard of, are acting well, or are total schlock. They do look nice, though, especially Daniele Vlaminck, Sophie Cnudde, and Marielle Jonas Oliver. The two main actors came across as boors, and not attractive enough to have these women in the first place. I cannot recommend sitting through this, even on the odd chance that you find it.

Bruno (Pierre Rousseau) an advertising designer and his wife Madeleine (Daniele Vlaminck) are a reasonably content Parisian couple until Bruno's boss gets the idea that their ad campaigns need spicing up with eroticism. Then their relationship takes a turn toward the steamy because he gives Bruno a stipend to investigate eroticism and Bruno chooses Madeleine as his assistant. They experiment with sexy games (e.g., Madeleine's telling Bruno that she isn't wearing underwear when they are out in public, having sex in their car beside the road, pretending to pick each other up in a shoe store, etc.)

Then they are invited to go on holiday in the country with a couple more experienced in eroticism. Solange (Sophie Cnudde) and Maurice (Michel David) are plotting a couple-swapping escapade.

But before the sex games begin, there is a funny scene in which Marie the maid (Marielle Jonas Oliver) sprays herself with a dye that she had mistaken for a perfume spray while innocently going through Madeleine's things as the two couples were outdoors. Bruno discovers her when he goes back to the room for his cigarettes. Being the perfect gentleman, he keeps their little secret to himself for which Marie is grateful.

The sexy games amount to a couple of erotic "dare you" temptations and a visit to a local 24/7 orgy house. The games finally get too scary for Madeleine and she runs out followed by Bruno.