Le Coût de la vie (2003)
Directed by Philippe Le Guay

Film Review

In stark contrast to Philippe Le Guay's previous film, the social realist drama Trois huit (2001),  Le Coût de la vie is a full-bodied adult comedy which satirises modern society's complex relationship with money.  The film weaves together its several strands very effectively, allowing some humorous contrasts to be made between the characters.  Whilst some of the ideas and situations feel under-developed, the film has great entertainment value, and Philippe Le Guay gets the best out of his excellent cast.  Fabrice Luchini is particularly memorable in his hilarious, yet also quite poignant, portrayal of a latter-day Scrooge.

Film Synopsis

Laurence is a young heiress who is determined to prove that she can find happiness without money, so she gets herself a job at a Lyon restaurant and promptly steals the heart of a dishwasher, Patrick.  The restaurant is owned by Coway, who has his own money worries.  A spendthrift who is incapable of reining in his generosity, Coway is always in debt.  Brett is his exact opposite, a mean-spirited man who never opens his wallet if he can help it.  He is the kind of man who will not hesitate to return something he has bought to the shop on the slightest of pretexts, and no one is faster at leaving a table after a meal in a restaurant than he is.  No wonder the love of his life walked out on him when he refused to buy her a new frock.  One man who doesn't have to worry about money is Nicolas de Blamond, a wealthy industrialist.  On learning that he has a potentially life-threatening heart condition, he makes up his mind that it is time for him to retire and jet off to some faraway sunny retreat.  To realise this dream, he must first sell off all of his factories, but this will create misery for the hundreds of people who work for him.  Why is it that so many of life's problems are caused by money...?