Little White Lies (2010)

the film is shot very realistic way. some of the character types you may find between your friends. and the situation having vacation with friends is quite similar to reality. that's what made me to watch this movie for 2 hours.the most important part of the movie is final. which is just brilliant! that's what makes this movie valuable.the movie shows the devaluation of friendship, when humans are too much self-oriented and they think of just their own problems,care abut their comfort, and friend is realized as part of the comfort. they forget that friendship should be more, then just spending time together and having fun. unfortunately the characters realize this only after death of Ludo..watch it with friends!

Guillaume Canet (the French guy in The Beach, but with many other acting and directing credits) writes and directs an excellent cast in a languid tale that wonders through the lives and relationships of a group of friends holidaying in the beautiful surroundings of Cap Ferret. The mix of characters and temperaments is played nicely by an engaging collection of thesps Francaise including Marion Cotillard, Francois Cluzet, Gilles Lellouche and Jean Dujardin, and Canet gives the main characters plenty to do, with various parallel story threads pulling them together, these threads mingle to coax the film forward, but at a pace consistent with that feeling of being on holiday when nothing has quite the same imperative as it does in the world of work. Canet guides proceedings ably toward the denouements of the various strands with a gentle touch, and there is a nice variation in tone throughout, with moments of real passion, drama, comedy and conflict, perhaps tending to melodrama in places, but without tipping over into multiple Kleenex territory. Events are brought together effectively in the third act, and Canet and his cast deliver an emotional conclusion that is highly satisfying, and you might need that hankie at the end after all.

a drama about a group of friends going on their annual vacation while one of them is left in intensive care after a fatal accident. the film examines the friends and their interrelationships through a risky mixture of comedy and tragedy, but the film stays pretty much on point for the most part thanks to admirable narrative skills from writer/director Guillaume Canet; the navigating dramatic tones is done mostly with nuance.it's very moving and it draws you in as one of the group; you observe their relationships, laugh and share sadness with them. the characters are all well developed and identified, it took time to get them but as you start to do and as the camera captures the slightest vulnerability, grin and tension, certain truths arise; that's interesting, it's the reason when given its length, the film doesn't seem to stagnate as it also entertains and features expressive use of music. after a while, the characters begin to grow apart until the tragedy of death brings them together; it's at this stage that i think the film could've done better; instead of melodramatically taking advantage. nevertheless, the film essentially succeeds in making the viewer think about his actions, hidden feelings or selfishness

This is a wonderful drama/comedy with a great ensemble cast. Francois Cluzet, who was so good as the invalid in THE INTOUCHABLES, shines here as a successful restaurant owner who plays host to a group of friends sharing vacation time at his country retreat. His refusal to acknowledge his innermost feelings drives much of the film. Benoit Magimel is excellent as a man making a journey of personal discovery and in the process sends his friendship with Cluzet on a downward spiral. The relationship between the two characters has its humorous moments before the darker undertones begin to set in. Marion Cotillard is brilliant as an emotionally unstable girl. Jean Dujardin is good in a small role as a mutual friend whose injury in a motorcycle accident precludes him from joining the others on vacation. I liked this film more than the critics generally did because of the great cast and compelling script. I would say that if you like ensemble dramas and have the patience for a little longer length story I think you'll find the results rewarding.