TWO TICKETS TO GREECE/ LES CYCLADES

France, 2023, 110 minutes, Colour.

Laure Calamy, Olivia Cote, Kristin Scott Thomas.

Directed by Marc Filoussi.

French audiences will have had travels on holidays in the Greek islands, Les Cyclades, so the title will be familiar. For those who live further away from Greece, it is probably safe and informative to have the present title.

Looking at the poster and/or seeing the trailer, it is clear that this is a “women’s picture”. There are three female stars, prominent. However, there are some men, but in much more subordinate roles, understood in relationship to the women. Surprisingly, the film has a male writer-director.

We are introduced to two school friends in their mid-teens, babysitters, not as responsible as might be, ousted, giggling together. 1989. However, now they have not seen each other for 30 years. During those 30 years, Blandine (Olivia Cote) has had a very serious life. She has married, has a 20-year-old son. She has a responsible job as an anaesthetist. However, her husband has walked out on her and has sent her an invitation to his next wedding. The son supports her, tries to move out of her melancholy. She asserts that she is all right, improving.

On the other hand, the very other hand, there is Magali, Laure Calamy, probably not even aware of the word, serious. She is ebullient, enjoying life, always a new opportunity, always a new man, and she has had 30 years of various partnerships, travels in different countries, but in no way daunted even in her 40s, still the way she was when a girl. Extrovert off the page!

Blandine’s son was going on holidays to Greece, to the island where the girls’ favourite film, The Big Blue, was filmed. When he can’t go, brainwave! Why not his mother going with her best friend from the past. But, Blandine has not followed up the initial contact, and there are ominous indications of tension, potential disasters.

Needless to say, but saying it, the holiday does not go as planned, definitely not, a range of accidents, daily fiascoes, clash of personalities.

Each day matters get more complicated, stranded on a small island, missing out on the hotel bookings, encountering surfers as well is German archaeologists. A strain for Blandine, bliss for Magali.

Something of a different tone when the exuberant British-born Greek resident, Bijou for (Kristin Scott Thomas) and her Greek partner welcome the guests. As something of a relief for introverted audiences, there are some issues raised, health issues, serious issues which offer some moments of depth of the film.

The tensions amongst the women may be understood when we realise that Blandine is strongly introverted, happily so, content and her unhappiness despite efforts to bring her out of it.. But, there is, finally for each woman, some kind of opening up for the future.

1. Expectations, travel and a holiday in the Greek islands, the central stars, the audience accompanying them, things going wrong?
2. 1989, the introduction to 2 young girls, babysitters, playing the music, drinking the wine, ousted by the parents? Their giggling together?
3. 30 years later, no contact? Blending son bringing them together, the Indian restaurant, Magali and her behaviour, playing to the gallery and everyone, planning but not following it up, the many phone calls, the situation of a holiday to Greece, recipe for tensions and disasters?
4. The portrait of Blandine, mid- 40s, the marriage, separation, the ex-husband’s new marriage, the invitation, her resentment? Her bonding with her son, his care for her, trying to bring her out herself, paying for therapy club activity and who pulling out, therapists, meeting up with Magali? Tall, solemn, her work as an anaesthetist?
5. The introduction to Magali, after 30 years, ebullient it and and beyond, extrovert off the page, appearance, talk, the restaurant, flirting, phone calls, the meal, memories with Blandine, her very life, sexual escapades, touches of irresponsibility, and Beaulieu aunt?
6. The trip, the interaction between the two, the firm introvert being tormented by the extrovert? The extrovert off the page and her assuming that the introvert should behave accordingly? The conversations, the issue of being over the top and stating this, Magali improvising, the scam with the tickets, their being stranded on the island, Blandine and her resentment, the comfort of the hotel booked, the lifts, the hotel, the genial proprietor, Magali and the music, dancing around, with the German archaeologists, ingratiating herself?
7. The room, the night, the next day, going to the beach, the story of the surfers, the encounter with Maxime, from Belgium, conversation with Blandine, seeming nice? Magali and the other surfers? The next night, the party, Blandine wanting to go back to the hotel, the sexual innuendo, Maxime driving back, the kiss? Blandine declaring no interest, the later sense of betrayal when Margulies spent the night with Maxime?
8. The ferry, wanting to go to the island where The Big Blue was filmed, nodding off, missing the stop? Staying at Mykonos, the contact with Bijou? Bijou, the vehicle, hair streaming, the same style of extraversion, bonding with Magali, the exchange of rings? Off-hand with Blandine? Going to the house, Dimitris, the relationship, his heart, the cooking, companionship? The outings, the parties? Going to the party next door, Magali interfering with the music, her being told off, ousted, her going to the beach, with Maxime?
9. Bijou, more serious, knowing what Blandine did for a living, getting her to look at the x-rays, the prognosis? The serious talk between them? Bijou and her going to the doctors, the verdict, her telling Dimitris?
10. Blandine eventually going to the hotel, the aftermath of the trip, the discussions between the two, Magali and her bluntness and criticism of Blandine, Blandine and her reactions?
11. The final visit to Bijou, the good news, the bond between the two women?
12. The flight home, her decision to track down Margulies, at the studio, not doing the television program and song, the children’s program, the discussions between the two, Magali calming down a little, doing something for someone else for a change?
13. The skateboarding, Blandine and her exhilaration, something extrovert, but something individual and personal, happy? Her future?