48 heures par jour (2008)

Debut filmmaker Catherine Castel does her country’s reputation for farce justice with this sophisticated and charming comedy about the complex life of today’s woman. Bruno (Antoine de Caunes), like the rest of his male brethren, is used to working late, unpredictable hours and coming home to a hot meal, a loving wife and happy kids. But for wife Marianne (Aure Atika), single-handedly caring for their two children and working hard at her mid-level advertising job is a delicate balancing act. One day, reaching the end of her tether and tired of her secondclass status, Marianne invents for herself a new high-powered position in Japan, in order to teach Bruno a lesson or two in parenting. Of course, things do not go quite to plan... Imaginative and lively, Castel’s film plays beyond the usual ‘battle of sexes’ clichés and manages to engage both the funny bone and the heart. The superb supporting cast, including Victoria Abril, Catherine Jacob, Aurore Clement and Yves Jacques, help give the story depth but it is arguably Mathias Mlekuz who is most appealing, as the charming neighbour and client who falls for Marianne.