Populaire (2012): Sweet, Funny Romantic Comedy

I just caught this new French rom-com at the SF International Film Fest; and since it’s being released in the U.S. soon, I want to tell you about it. The Weinstein Company is hoping Populaire will be this year’s version of The Artist  (2011), and they may be right. Like that hit film, Populaire is reminiscent of an earlier era in cinema. This one is set in 1959, and is an homage to the light, romantic confections of that era, films like Pillow Talk (1959) or Charade (1963).  Like The Artist, it is also charming, funny, and sweet, if a bit on the frothy side. 

Populaire captures the look and feel of late fifties cinema, but also the color schemes and fashion of that era (similar to the way Mad Men has captured the early and mid 1960’s.):  the clothes, the hairstyles, the eyeglasses, the typewriters, all with a little French twist. It is shot in dazzling, pastel-saturated Technicolor hues.  We’re also given a peek at the very different roles and professional expectations of the sexes a half century ago. Not that Populaire is aimed at inducing a lot of heavy thinking; but from our vantage point a half century later, it does provide an interesting reminder of how much has changed.

 This is the first feature film for writer-director Régis Roinsard, but inexperience seems not to be a handicap. The pace is brisk, the wit sparkles; basically, the picture picks us up and whisks us along, so that even the silly or predictable plot elements (and there are a few) seem trifling, easily overlooked in the cause of fun entertainment.  Roinsard is aided and abetted by the experienced cinematographer, Guillaume Schiffman (The Artist, Gainsbourg(2010) the OSS 117 movies (2006 and 2009)) and a wonderful cast.

In the leads are Déborah François (L’enfant (2005)) and Romain Duris  (L’Auberge Espagnole (2002)). Francois plays Rose Pamphyl, a shopkeeper’s daughter from a little village, who, in an effort to better herself and escape to a meaningful life in a bigger world, teaches herself to type. In spite of her untutored hunt-and-peck technique, and her general awkwardness, Rose lands a job in the Normandy town of Lisieux, (which seems like the big city to her), as secretary for lone wolf insurance agent, Louis Echard (Duris).  Louis takes her on because, although she’s actually a terrible secretary, she’s a remarkably fast typist. And pretty.  Louis, who I’m advised is not bad looking himself (and Rose seems to think so), is a competitive man, and he gets it into his head that Rose could be a champion speed typist. He keeps her on the payroll so he can train her, and spends every waking moment doing just that. The story takes off from there.

In another connection to The Artist, Populaire also features the beautiful Bérénice Bejo as a former flame of Louis, now married to his best friend, the American expatriate, Bob Taylor (Shaun Benson). Louis still kicks himself for letting her go, and who can blame him? His ongoing infatuation with his former girlfriend is one of several problems blinding him to his growing feelings for Rose. Her eyesight is better, but as the famous playwright said, the course of true love never did run smooth.

Bejo notwithstanding, Déborah François simply owns this picture. There’s a nice chemistry between her and Romain Duris, and, because of this,  we want their romance to succeed. Francois’ comic timing, range of expression, charmingly cute good looks, and - during the typing competitions - her competitive intensity, all are perfect. (If you saw her in L'Enfant a few years ago, as an appropriately dour teen mother, you'll be surprised at how different she is here.) I expect we’ll be seeing more of her; I hope so

The speed typing competitions begin to dominate the plot in the latter part of the movie, and it’s a mixed thing. On the one hand these scenes are done very well (surprisingly engaging, really); on the other hand, they’re sort of silly and probably detract from the romantic comedy at the heart of the story, much like the dance competition kind of spoiled the end of the otherwise excellent Silver Linings Playbook last year.

Bottom line: Populaire is a stylish, cute, funny, entertaining picture. It will not bring about world peace, but it will make you laugh. These days, that counts for something.

To be released in the U.S. on May 17, 2013 September 6, 2013.