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Juliette Gosselin, Mylene St.-Sauveur, Patricia NOLLIN, Paul Savoie, Vincent Graton ... see more see more... , Xavier Morin-Lefort , Jacques L'Heureux , Normand Helms , Sonia Vigneault , Alexander Cote , Claude Despins , Hélène Florent , Macha Grenon , Micheline Lanctôt , Sylvie Moreau , Emily Holmes

Michele, a divorced aerobics instructor with a gambling addiction, loses her job and seeks refuge with a childhood friend, Janine, who lives in a seemingly comfortable middle-class suburban neighborho... read more read more...od. Michele's rebellious teenage daughter, Marguerite, and Janine's shy and reserved daughter, Gabrielle, become friends, leading to unforeseen tensions that force both generations to reassess their values.

Flixster Users

66% liked it

1,327 ratings

Critics

89% liked it

9 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 44 min.

Directed by: Louise Archambault

Release Date: September 2, 2005

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DVD Release Date: August 8, 2006

Stats: 63 reviews

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Mylène St-Sauveur Mylène St-Sauveur
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Flixster Reviews (63)

  • fb1144932598
    May 4, 2011
    fb1144932598
    This French-Canadian film tells a largely depressing tale of three families, with tenuous connections, that are slowly unraveling. Michelle (Sylvie Moreau), a woman with a gambling addiction, and her out-of-control teenage daughter, Marguerite (Mylene St.-Sauveur) move in with a ... read morefriend, Janine Macha Grenon), and her daughter, Gabrielle (Juliette Gosselin), son, and frequently absent husband. Conflicts ensue and finally spiral out of control, and both women find their worlds falling apart. Add in a young woman, Kate (Emily Holmes) that Janine befriends with what are finally revealed as ulterior motives and a recipe for disaster is in place. Terrific acting by all of the principles. The story wears a patina of gloom throughout, and the camera angles convey a sense of claustrophobia that emphasized that Michelle is facing ever fewer viable options. There are scenes of mild depravity as a result of her desperation that are tastefully handled. This was not a fun film to watch, by any means, but the quality of the production kept the viewer engaged. A couple of holes in the plot that may have been due to over-zealous editing, and plot twists that could be seen from a mile off detracted only slightly from the experience. The ending left one hopeful that life would go on, just not as originally configured.
  • Parannoyed
    August 28, 2007
    Parannoyed
    I usually hate movies made in quebec but surprisingly i loved this one... the ties between two mothers and their own daughters is quite appelaing in this movie where you have diametrically opposite characters with diff. values, morals and lifestyles. I loved it! This is definitel... read morey a tear-jerker for those sensitive at heart.
  • FanGirl
    September 12, 2006
    FanGirl
    A family drama that focus on two women and their daughters as their lives come crashing down around them. They may have thrown one to many issues into this film but overall a realistic look at how quickly your life can come crashing down around you. Also shows how destructive m... read moreen/boys can be to womens' lives.

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Critic Reviews

Derek Elley
July 28, 2006
Derek Elley, Variety

Pic would play much better as an ironic Altmanesque comedy, since its moments of pure drama are the weakest. Still, this is a largely entertaining feature debut. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
July 28, 2006
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

Open-ended, inconclusive, heartfelt, unsentimental and curious, it's a movie that respects something too few popular entertainments do these days: our right to stumble our way from one day to the next. Full Review

Liam Lacey
July 28, 2006
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

A smart, well-modulated drama from first-time Quebec director Louise Archambault that packs a powerful after-effect. Full Review

Ray Bennett
September 10, 2005
Ray Bennett, Hollywood Reporter

Steering well clear of soap opera, the film offers a slice of life that women will surely recognize and men would no doubt benefit from seeing.

Urban Cinefile Critics
May 23, 2008
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile

Don't let the DVD slick's happy smiling faces fool you; this is no flimsy chick flick, but a hard headed, big hearted expose of contemporary life Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
July 4, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Tackles some heavy domestic issues for a sitcom film and does so incisively and intelligently. Full Review

Brian Gibson
November 12, 2006
Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

A mundane melodrama that drags us along to window shop for some cheap, knock-off dysfunction. . . the women are about as interesting as stale donuts and the lying, cheating men are like the deep fryer...

Philip Martin
June 18, 2006
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

...a delicate dramedy that engages difficult themes in a way that seems neither forced nor arch. Full Review

S. James Wegg
September 10, 2005
S. James Wegg, JWR

Chick flick extraordinaire! Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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