Review by Neil Davey
Stars Gerard Depardieu, Gisele Casadesus, Maurane,
Patrick Bouchitey, Jean-Francois Demaison,
Claire Maurier, Sophie Guillemin
Written by Jean Becker and Jean-Loup Dabadie
Certification UK 15
Runtime 82 minutes
Directed by Jean Becker
Oh those French... Over the years, there have been many opportunities to use the expression “only the French can do this kind of thing” when talking about certain films. Indeed, I’ve used that expression for many of those occasions. I warn you now: I’m going to use it again in a few seconds.
In most hands, My Afternoons With Marguerite would have been a twee, schmaltzy disaster. Thanks to Jean Becker’s capable direction, and two quite excellent central performances, it becomes a whimsical (if slightly clichéd) delight.
Germain (Depardieu) is an odd job man. Or, if you prefer in this instance, a lumbering, illiterate simpleton barely able to hold down a job. He’s also very aware that his lack of education makes him the butt of his friends’ jokes and, worse, the subject of extreme emotional bullying from his senile mother. Thoroughly miserable, Germain spends his days defacing monuments in the park – which is how and where he meets, Margueritte (Casadesus) and, you’ll never guess what he does then? What’s that? Oh. Yes. You’re right. He spends afternoons with this diminutive 95-year old. As with all such odd couple tales, the two develop a sense of understanding and an unexpected emotional bond as she reads to him and awakens a love of great literature.
Cynics need not apply and, if you want to hate it, you’ll find plenty here to fuel that fire. Keep an open mind however, and a healthy sense of forgiveness, and you’ll be grinning inanely for hours after. Lovely performances, a lovely script, a surprising melancholic tone until the final reel and a surprisingly brief running time add up to a little charmer. Everyone else would have cocked it up completely because... well, you can fill this bit in yourself...