We’re pleased to close the festival with a preview of Agnes Jaoui’s wonderful dramatic comedy Le goet des autres, which has been a big hit in France. This is Jaoui’s first film as a director, but it follows much excellent work as an actress and scriptwriter. She co-wrote Alain Resnais’s On connait la chanson with partner Jean-Pierre Bacri, and the pair also wrote and acted in Un air de famille. In Le goet des autres, Jaoui sets up a battle between art and commerce as two rival social circles collide head-on in a suburban French city. Captain of industry Castella (Bacri) is steeped in the culture of deal-making and is oblivious any form of high art. Apoplectic at the idea of being dragged by his wife to a theatre performance of Racine’s Berenice, Castella discovers he’s moved to tears and becomes smitten with leading actress Clara (Anne Alvaro). Castella pursues Clara relentlessly, churning out embarrassing poetry, snapping up abstract paintings and generally flaunting his poor taste. With the help of her excellent cast, Jaoui brings together her two conflicting circles with a deft comic touch that never drifts into silly farce.

France, 1999.
English subtitles.
Colour. Scope.
Dolby digital stereo.
112 min.