TOUT CE QUI BRILLE (All That Glitters) DVD (2010)
SYNOPSIS: Ely and Lila are as close as sisters. They have known each other since childhood - they share everything and dream of a different life together. They live in the same suburb, ten minutes by metro from Paris. Today, Ely and Lila no longer want to be ten minutes from their lives. From minor muddles to major lies, they will do everything in their power to try to enter this world that isn't theirs where everything seems possible. But they soon realise that all that glitters is not gold....
MOVIE REVIEW:
Skipping the local cinemas despite premiering at the public ScreenSingapore screenings earlier this year, the French surprise hit ‘All That Glitters’ proves to be a slick chick flick offering that should please anyone looking for some light-hearted froth. The story of two twenty-something working-class gals who get a taste of the life of Paris’ upper classes as well as its consequences, this debut effort from writing/ directing duo Geraldine Nakache and Herve Mimran also displays some surprising depth as commentary about social class.
The lead characters are two best friends- Lila (Leila Bekhti) and Ely (Nakache)- living in the same banlieue of Puteaux- when not stuck behind menial customer assistance jobs (Lila works at the popcorn counter of a cinema; while Ely takes orders at a sandwich joint), they spend time dreaming about an expensive life would be. Their wishes come true one night after sneaking into a hip Paris nightclub where the rich and wealthy hang out- and while Lila goes head-over-heels for charming pretty boy Maxx (Simon Buret), Ely befriends two other socialites Agathe (Virginie Ledoyen) and Joan (Linh-Dan Pham).
The story goes where you’d expect it to- Lila starts alienating both her boyfriend (Manu Payet) as well as Ely; while Ely starts to feel increasingly out of place even as she inadvertently becomes the babysitter to Joan’s son. Indeed, their friendship can only get worse before it gets better- though like any other Hollywood chick flick, you can expect your happy ending by the time the credits roll. Granted inspiration isn’t exactly its strong suite, but what the film lacks in originality, it makes up for with breezy charm and generous wit.
Navache and Mimran’s script smartly paints the contrasting lives of the upper class and working class of French society, and the desire of the latter to gain entry into the former. The extent to which Lila, and to a lesser extent Ely, try to deny their true backgrounds is especially telling, and a considerably poignant scene sees Ely’s close relationship with her doting father strained when her newfound friends Agathe and Joan ridicule him in public after mistaking him for an old perv trying to pick them up. And much as it would have been easy to paint the pair of upper-class folk as snobbish, the film avoids the cliché by portraying them as simply ignorant to those not within their usual social cliques.
The film also coasts considerably on the appeal of its two stars, Bekhti and Navache, who share great chemistry with each other. Both stars bring forth their characters’ defining personalities nicely, Lila’s social ambition contrasting with Ely’s more level-headed sensibilities. Daniel Cohen also puts in a surprisingly strong supporting performance as Ely’s dad, and his moving turn adds emotional weight to Ely’s character transformation as she tries to climb the social ladder.
But who can blame Lila and Ely? After all, we’re all guilty of coveting those on the upper echelons of society, hoping to enjoy the high life that they live day in and day out, not realising sometimes that their lives may not be as rosy as what we imagine it could be like on the higher rungs. Yes, it’s a social dramedy well played if you will, and also an enjoyable chick flick that reinforces the value of friendship. All that glitters may not be gold, but it’s good enough for us to recommend you to check it out.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The Dolby Digital 2.0 audio does well to bring out both the French dialogue and the teeny-bopper pop tunes. Visuals are clean and colours look dynamic.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Gabriel Chong
