Bienvenue au gîte (2003)
Directed by Claude Duty

Comedy / Drama

aka: Bed and Breakfast

Film Review

Abstract picture representing Bienvenue au gite (2003)

Claude Duty followed his successful musical film Filles perdues, cheveux gras (2002) with this comparatively uninspired comedy-drama, the latest in what seems like a deluge of “town to country / change of lifestyle” films to have landed on the big screen over the last five or so years. Whilst the film is attractively shot and has a few engaging sequences, the plethora of obvious clichés does weigh it down and diminish its worth as an original piece of cinema. It doesn't help that the two lead characters are underwritten and played without any real depth or enthusiasm. Even stars like Bulle Ogier and Julie Depardieu have a hard time breathing life into the dull and predictable narrative.

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Film Synopsis

Tired of their stressful Parisian lifestyle, Caroline and Bertrand decide to start a new life, running a traditional gîte in deepest Provence. It is not long before they start to question the wisdom of this move - the buildings are in a state of near-dilapidation, their friend and supposed partner Sophie has walked out on them, and they are but a stone's throw from a far more attractive holiday home, catering for gay men. Will this change be as good as a rest, or the start of a nightmare..?

The above content is owned by frenchfilms.org and must not be copied.

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Film Credits

Director: Claude Duty
Script: Jean-Philippe Barrau, Claude Duty
Cinematographer: David Johnson
Music: Valmont
Cast: Marina Foïs (Caroline), Philippe Harel (Bertrand), Annie Grégorio (Angélique), Sebastian Barrio (Julien), Michael Maloney (Peter), Bulle Ogier (Odile de Castellane), Julie Depardieu (Sophie), Nathalie Levy-Lang (Marie), Lionel Abelanski (Philippe), Léa Drucker (Agnès), Sandra Nkake (Patrick), Olivier Saladin (Père Robert), Julie Durand (Isabelle), Sylvie Lachat (Sophie), Olivier Broche (Un invité à la soirée), Philippe Julia (Gay person), Lise Lamétrie (Angèle), Roland Menou (Le randonneur aux cloques), Florence Muller (Valérie), Paul Silve (M. Vaillant)
Country: France / UK
Language: French
Support: Color
Runtime: 105 min
Aka: Bed and Breakfast

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