Contes Immoraux

An embarrassingly silly soft-porn (very soft) film. It dates from 1974, when hair (pubic or other) was left in its original state on actors and actresses. It consists of a number of disjoint stories, all of them boring. I found the one featuring a young Fabrice Luchini explaining the physics of tides to a girl, while said girl is performing some sexual acts on him, rather funny though.

Another story describes the crimes of Elizabeth Báthory, not sure how that could be erotic.

All in all: perhaps of historic interest but otherwise very boring and a waste of time.

☆

Gemma Bovary

This recent (2014) French comedy features my favorite male French actor, Fabrice Luchini, as a Parisian intellectual (Martin) who returned to Normandy where he runs his parents bakery. When an English couple called Bovery moves into a neighboring house and the wife's name turns out to be Gemma, played by he very attractive Gemma Arterton, Martin is strongly reminded of Flaubert's masterpiece 'Madame Bovary'. His obsession only increases when, as in the book, Gemma starts having an affair (unfortunately for him, not with Martin).

Genna Aterton and Fabrice Luchini

The plot is clever and entertaining. There are funny characters representing some stereotypes about English expats living in France and the views of the Normandy countryside are as pleasant as in reality. Overall, a nice lightweight comedy, well worth viewing.

☆☆☆

Les Femmes du 6ème étage

A film with two of my favorite French actors, Fabrice Luchini and Sandrine Kimberlain cannot be all bad. In fact, this is an excellent 'feel good' movie. The title "The women on the sixth floor" refers to the floor containing the "chambres de bonnes" in a building otherwise filled with large apartments for the bourgeois that employ the people living on the 6th floor.
The story is set in the early 1960's. Jean-Louis Joubert (Luchini), a financial advisor, becomes infatuated with the new Spanish maid, Maria, who has her own worries, including a child left behind in Spain. His wife (Kimberlain) suspects that he is having an affair with a society figure and kicks him out. He moves to a tiny room on the 6th floor in the same building. This is the first time in his life that he has his own room, and he enjoys it tremendously. He ingratiates himself with the other servants living there.
Unfortunately, Maria leaves for Spain to reunite with her son, without telling him. Still, all ends well (of course) after a while. A pleasure to watch.
☆☆☆☆