Little White Lies

The 2010 French film Little White Lies finally makes its way overseas for a U.S. release.  Some folks may shy away from this film due to the long running time and subtitles, but the wide array of characters (including a few recognizable in this country) form a story definitely worth going out of your way to see.

After leaving a nightclub on his scooter, Ludo (Jean Dujardin, The Artist) is blindsided by a truck and ends up in intensive care.  His closest friends gather to support him, yet ultimately decide to embark on their traditional summer holiday together.  Hotel owner Max (Francois Cluzet, The Intouchables) funds the annual trip at his swanky seaside vacation home.  Prior to the trip, Max's chiropractor Vincent (Benoit Magimel, The Piano Teacher) professes his love to Max.  Both men are married with children making the vacation rather tense for both of them.  The rest of the gang includes Eric (Gilles Lellouche, Point Blank), Marie (Marion Cotillard, The Dark Knight Rises), and Antoine (Laurent Lafitte, Tell No One) - all of whom have experienced their share of failed relationships.  Over the period of a few short weeks, the lies between all of these close friends become exposed and must be addressed.

Just as a warning to potential viewers, I feel obligated to say that Dujardin's role is limited and he probably doesn't appear for more than 20 minutes in Little White Lies.  That being said, the rest of the ensemble cast is quite a treat.  Magimel is a comic delight as the tightly-wound Max who frets about the lawn and the possibility of weasels infesting his beach house.  That's high praise when the comedy rises above language barriers.  The kaleidoscope of characters in the film allows each viewer to single in on the particular individual they care about whether it’s the womanizing Eric or the selfish Antoine who laments about his ex-girlfriend 24/7.
 
I only have a few criticisms that drag down the grade of this release just a bit.  The music selected for the film is downright strange.  I enjoy Creedence Clearwater Revival as much as anyone, but listening to the Vietnam War anthem “Fortunate Son” while French friends hang out on their boat is weird.  Same goes for classic songs like “Hang On Sloopy” and “The Weight.”  Other songs are blared over dramatic scenes where hearing the emotions of the actors would have been far more powerful.  My other gripe is the lack of special features.  The extras only consist of the trailer and an eight minute making-of vignette.  Pretty underwhelming for a film that was released over two years ago.  Still, patient viewers interested in foreign films will want to give Little White Lies a chance.