LES EMOTIFS ANONYMES / ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS
France, 2010, 80 minutes, Colour.
Benoit Poelvoorde, Isabelle Carre.
Directed by Jean- Pierre Ameris.
The French title is a better and more accurate, especially when we see Angelique (Isabelle Carre) attending a variation on AA where the participants discuss their highly feeling lives and behaviour.
Angelique is publicly awkward but wants a job at a chocolate factory managed (not too well, they are almost bankrupt) by Jean- Rene (Benoit Poelvoorde). He is more awkward than she and attends sessions with a therapist. The therapist tells him to take someone to dinner (that is a real disaster but Angelique blames herself), then to touch someone, which has some surprising results.
In the meantime, we learn more about Angelique and her extraordinary talent for making perfect chocolates. The factory could make a comeback.
This is a very brief film, quite delightful in its way, with pleasant performances from the two leads as they try to deal with their gawkiness and gaffes, discover their love for each other. It is a fairy tale with touches of realism or a realistic story with touches of fantasy, with the light Gallic touch.
1. The French title and its tone? The bland Romantics Anonymous? The emphasis on emotionality rather than romance? A middle-age story? A fantasy?
2. Audiences accepting the fairy tale, the world of chocolate? Audiences having to let go of expectations of realism?
3. The city of Lyon, the streets, shops, the factory, restaurants, the exhibition and fair? The French tone? The musical score? Songs?
4. The group meeting of the Emotions Anonymous participants? Anguish, the types, the twelve steps, the woman weeping, Angelique telling her story, fainting? Her return to the group, getting their advice? The further stories? Jean- Rene following her, talking to the group, explaining himself, Angelique’s reply? The group being the catalyst for each of them telling the truth, admitting their love?
5. Angelique and her story, her shyness, her mother (and the scene with Frank, Angelique as a contrast with her mother)? Her singing the Sound of Music song, I Have Confidence in Me? Her imitating Julie Andrews’ steps, jauntiness, ankle-kick? Her going for the job, rehearsing in the window, the ladies seeing her, inviting her in, their warning about the boss, the eccentric interview, her earnestness about chocolate? Her promotion job rather than making chocolate? Her attempts to sell the chocolate, the failures, the lady in the chocolate shop declaring the chocolate obsolete? Her change of heart – and her decision to make the chocolate?
6. The story of her studies, her skill in making chocolate, the judges and their admiration? Her nervousness and running away? Monsieur Mercier and his following her, commissioning her chocolates, her being the delivery person? The suddenness of his death? Her need for a job?
7. Jean- Rene, his visits to the psychiatrist, his story about his father fearing everything, hoping that something good would come? The psychologist urging him to invite someone to a meal, his inviting Angelique impulsively, his suitcase and hiding it in the toilet, sweating, changing his shirts, putting on the wrong shirt, his escape out the window, the inability to have conversation, Angelique and her cards? The waiter and the ordering, the wine? Jean- Rene escaping out the toilet window? The psychiatrist telling him to touch someone, his attempts to reach out, with the young men in the factory, shaking hands with Angelique, unable to let go, the kiss – their discussion about the kiss, professional distance?
8. The company, the staff, their working on the chocolates, the two women, the two young men? Bankruptcy? Angelique’s idea, setting up the computer, as if it were a camera and the hermit was dictating the recipes? Her earphone? The success of the chocolates? The women working out what had happened? Going to see the shop owner, her delight in the chocolates, suggesting they go to the exhibition, the judge recognising her, her fainting? Their winning the competition? New orders?
9. Angelique, considering herself a failure, happy with her chocolate, the hotel, the single room, the bed, no couch, going out to the meal, the return, the sexual bonding, the walk, Jean-Rene? and his hurrying out to the air, Angelique thinking she had failed again, packing and leaving? Jean- Rene and the advice of the concierge?
10. Angelique not coming to the shop? Jean- Rene and his speech to the group? Their response, forcing him into the car, supporting him?
11. The anonymous group and the staff both backing Angelique and Jean- Rene? The proposal, the wedding, Angelique hiding in the cupboard – and the two of them walking down the road together?
12. A nice fairytale film – French style?
