As I always do when I sit down to watch a new French movie I had high expectations but it didn't take long before those expectations of mine collapsed as Dans Paris. (Inside Paris), progressed.

When the first scene opened we find 3 people in bed, two men and one woman. A ménage à trois? Perhaps, Perhaps not. But, when the first character awakens he seems confused himself as he gets out of bed.

We soon learn the men are brothers, Paul, (Romain Duris ) and Jonathan, (Louis Garrel), both actors who are considered French sex symbols, (personally I don't get it, that they could be considered such), well maybe, Louis Garrel and I did enjoy Duris in his role as Moliere, but sex symbols? I guess it’s a French thing…Anyway, Jonathan goes out onto the balcony and begins to narrate the story about what has transpired and what happens in the future. In the background we see the city of Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the distance. These scenes of the city turn out to be my favorite part of the film.

It seems Paul has come home to stay with his (divorced) father and brother since his girlfriend Anna has left him. While watching the back scenes of this break up, it doesn't come as any surprise to me that these two would break up, though Anna doesn't seem to be much of a prize either. Now that Paul has come back home his had taken over Jonathan's bedroom so he, Jonathan is sleeping on the couch. We then meet my favorite character in this film, their father, Mirko, Guy Marchand. He wakes Jonathan up in his opening scene and all he wants to do is feed him breakfast and have Jonathan find out just what is going on with Paul who is in a deep depression over this breakup, he is glum, he is miserable, and just mopes around all day and night.

In an attempt to get Paul out of the house and maybe out the dreary mood he's in, Jonathan asks Paul to go with him to the Bon Marche, a very elite and beautiful department store where he reminds Paul how much he used to love to look at the Christmas displays in this stores windows. Meet me there in a short while, Jonathan says, and off he goes into the streets of Paris. So what do you know, we soon learn that Jonathan is quite a lady's man as he proceeds to meet one woman after another, one on a scooter who takes him for quite a ride when she invites him to her abode, he then proceeds to jump from one bed to another as the day progresses

One of women is his ex-girlfriend who, it turns out, just can’t resist his charms even if she tells him he smells and has some nasty habits. Three woman in one day, what a spirit he his, but what about his appointment with Paul at the store?

Meanwhile their mother, (Marie-France Pisier), arrives at the apartment and does seem to get through to Paul a little bit. She seems willing to stay awhile until an argument erupts between her and Mirko. Some conversation ensues and we find out that there was a sister who had an untimely death. Mirko is afraid Paul might try suicide.

As the story continues we learn more and more about the relationships within the framework of the film. A few of the scenes were interesting and I found myself feeling better about watching but then, just the opposite would happen, for instance, when Paul is on the phone with ex-friend Anna and they suddenly burst out in song….Huh, I thought, what is that about? To tell you the truth, though this film seems to be a study in family and how it deals with depression, I just found the character Paul just way to depressing and unappealing for me to watch. I just didn't like his character though I did like the father, to me, he was the best part of the movie, well, except for the city of Paris, which was photographed quite beautifully. I couldn't help myself try to figure out just where each location was.

Dans Paris was directed by Christophe Honore, who is quite a respected film director and is considered an "auteur" in the art of French film making… He now has a new movie out, Love Songs "Les Chansons d'amour which features all singing. I guess that would account for that one scene on the phone. I did like the way he focused on the family and their relationships with each other and those who come in contact with them. Jonathan, the narrator, does bring the movie together somewhat and the end has a but of a surprise, but would I sit through it again, merci, no.
Would I recommend it? I guess the answer would be yes for die-hard French films buffs or fans of these actors and directer.

There wasn't much in the way of DVD Extras, just a short film by Director Christophe Honore and some deleted scenes.

90 minutes
In French with English sub-titles.
Rated R for nudity and sexual situations

Main Cast:
Romain Duris - Paul
Louis Garrel - Jonathan
Guy Marchand - Mirko
Alice Butaud - Alice
Helena Noguerra - Scooter Girl
Lou Rambert Preiss - Loup
Joana Preiss - Anna
Marie-France Pisier - Mother

Director:
Christophe Honore
Writer:
Christophe Honore
Producer:
Paulo Branco


I'm adding this review to my French/English Write-off for obvious reasons..*grin*

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age