The Thousands

On Bastille Day, it’s apropos to be reviewing this romantic farce, whose French title translates as True Lies. (Unfortunately, Hollywood already nabbed that for the remake of La Totale!) And it does seem rather French to find comedy in a daughter writing a love letter to her mum’s boobs. Jean (Sami Bouajila), a handyman at a provincial hair salon, pens his boss Émilie (Audrey Tautou) a passionate, anonymous love letter. Émilie borrows Jean’s words to cheer up her soon-to-be-divorced mum Maddy (Nathalie Baye), but the farce begins when Maddy decides Jean is her secret admirer.

Tautou is back in Amélie mode here – albeit a surly, vodka-swilling Amélie. Her comedic skills are largely wasted – as are her trademark smiles and pert, surprised looks – and she spends more time hiding in her office than actually cutting people’s hair. Jean is the most intriguing character here, and the film leaves its pivotal question of intellectual snobbery largely untouched. Despite its gorgeous seaside setting and some inspired moments – as when Émilie cowers in her car as Maddy pashes a shocked Jean on the bonnet – I can’t help feeling an American remake could have made this story wittier, cheekier and pacier.