Une affaire qui roule (2003)
Directed by Eric Veniard

Film Review

Having made his mark as a screenwriter, on Jacques Maillot's Nos vies heureuses (1999) and Renaud Cohen's Quand on sera grand (2000), Eric Veniard made a respectable feature debut with this amiable comedy (previously, in 1997, he had made a medium-length film entitled Thérapie russe). For the most part, it's a two-handed piece in which the lead actors Clovis Cornillac and Denis Podalydès play to their strengths, making an effective chalk-and-cheese double act that is a joy to watch. Veniard's talents are more obviously visible on the screenwriting front, although he shows some promise as director and makes the most of the comic situations that he and his writing so deftly managed to set up. Whilst the plot is somewhat lacking in originality and is not immune from some pretty blatant stereotyping (all airline stewards are gay apparently), the main characters are convincingly drawn and are given sufficient focus for the film to hold our attention. Une affaire qui roule is by no means a breathtakingly original comedy but it has charm and manages to be a moderately enjoyable divertissement. Eric Veniard would subsequently co-author the lesbian-themed drama Je te mangerais (2009) and Jacques Maillot's highly regarded thriller Les Liens du sang (2008).

Film Synopsis

Frustrated by his job as a chef in a mundane restaurant, Jean-Jacques hands in his apron and sets about trying to find the money he needs to open his own high-class eatery.  Despite the encouragement of well-meaning friends, Jean-Jacques' efforts to find the necessary cash prove futile, so he decides to attend a class on how to start a new business, which is run by Claude.  The latter also hates his job and gives it up so that he can start writing his first novel.  Like Jean-Jacques, Claude has difficulty getting his new venture off the ground...