Delicacy (2012)

This 2011 offering has Audrey Tautou in it. Need one say more? Ever since I watched her as "Amelie" in 2001 I've been entranced, like the rest of the world. In the airy and whimsical "La delicatesse" she plays Nathalie Kerr, an essentially joyful soul who is suddenly widowed one fine day when her beloved husband dies in an accident. She loses herself in grief and takes recourse in her work, and only her work. A few years pass before something unexpected happens. This something takes the shape of a tall, blond, endearing, sensitive and all-round decent (Swedish) guy named Markus Lundell who happens to be her co- worker. Nathalie and Markus play off each other's fears, in a way: she is under the shadow of her grief still, and he is so swept off his feet by his feelings for her that he is actually afraid of moving forward lest he hurt himself. Their back-and-forth is awkward, even clumsy; yet lighthearted enough to prise a smile out of the most jaded viewer.More here: http://devikamenon.blogspot.com/2016/06/french-movie- Friday-la-delicatesse.html

This film is about a young successful career woman, whose life grinds to a halt when her husband dies in a traffic accident.I was expecting "La délicatesse" to be a more uplifting romantic comedy, but it was more of a down to earth, modest romantic tale. It tells an unlikely love story between a beautiful woman and her unattractive subordinate. The film focuses on their interaction, which is real and authentic. It is just like the interaction that normal couples have. However, this also means that the story is plan and can be uninteresting at times. To be honest, it lacks the sparkle that is normally present in Audrey Tautou's romantic comedies.

I watched this at a community arts centre, as part of their film season and where a mixture of mostly younger couples and women of all ages on their own were in attendance. I was the only bloke on my own.Now, many enjoy a romantic film; generally, I don't. Audrey Tautou was definitely the selling point for me. I'm sure a good number will find Delicacy a delightful film, full of life's quirks and nicely Gallic, too.Unfortunately, most of the scenes are in and around the workplace, the direction is boring and the camera-work often rather lazy. And, the film is getting on for being seriously long - 108mins for a rom-com is pushing it a bit.Thankfully, the characters are rather more interesting with our lovely Tautou generally rather underplaying her lead role and came across as being slightly disinterested, though this may have been intentional. There are a couple of scenes that she acts masterfully, though and these help keep us interested.The scenario goes something like this - Nathalie (Tautau) is distraught when her perfect life partner tragically dies. To distract her grief she throws herself into her work as a middle-manager (a law firm, I think), but still she dwells on her loss. One day, she literally throws herself at balding and rather gangly Swede Markus (Francois Damiens) who understandably, cannot believe his luck. She initially denies that she had any reason do have done that but tentatively, they become closer. Getting others - her friends, parents and workmates to take Markus seriously then becomes the thrust of the film.It's quietly affecting and amusing, certainly not laugh-out-loud and will be too subtle and slightly off-key for those who only really go for blatant and brash U.S rom-coms. Better seen (I'm sure) as a couple and even more so if that couple are 'together' Delicacy offers some quirky embellishments to add a touch of magic as well as a story that is slightly different. However, as I have said, much of that was wasted on me but I'm still fairly glad that I saw it but I fear, it will fade from my memory rather fast.

I've seen this movie at a theatre mostly because of the always extremely funny Francois Damiens, even if the story seemed interesting. Overall it's a good entertaining picture but in my opinion more of a "chick flix" made for woman viewers, some peoples like me might find it a bit too long. Basically the story is about a woman named Nathalie who is in love with her boyfriend when he die after being hit by a car... Her boss named Charles Delamain try to seduce her all through the movie, but she always refuse saying he's not her kind of guy. Finally she meet Markus, and something begin to blossom between them. Audrey Tautou is very competent as Nathalie whom she portay with energy, which is not the case for Francois Damiens who is really sleeping and don't add much... Overall it's still 5 times better than atrocities like "La Graine et le Mulet" whom I couldn't bear watching more than 30 minutes, but in my opinion it's still a bit too long, considering it's only an average love story movie...