My Afternoons With Margueritte

Gerard Depardieu has always been the sort of actor who can singlehandedly prop up a movie. In the enchanting My Afternoons With Margueritte, the Frenchman again takes what could easily have been a dull comedy-drama and, with an amazing performance, transforms it into something altogether more thought-provoking.

The increasingly rotund actor plays Germain, a handyman who lives with his abusive mother and is seen as bit of an idiot by the people in his village. His life is given new meaning when he runs into lonely pensioner Margueritte (Gisele Casadesus) in the village square. Under the tutelage of the 95-year-old, Germain develops an appreciation for literature that helps him deal with a troubled past, subsequently building strong relationship with girlfriend Annette (Sophie Guillemin).

Those who have been spoon-fed Hollywood blockbusters all year will probably find the slow pace of Jean Becker’s movie difficult to handle. Give it a chance, though, and you’ll discover a moving film about the power of friendship that features a very skillful central turn.

The way Depardieu deftly moves between comedy and drama shows that, unlike many of his peers, he is just getting better with age.

4/5

GOOD FOR: Those with patience.

Watch the My Afternoons With Margueritte trailer here.

[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flgBaCdBhGU]

– Pierre De Villers