she said cinema I won't lie to you, I am a bit predictable in my love for all things French. I'm a complete sucker for a French movie and if said French movie has the brilliant Gérard Depardieu in it then, well, I know I'm gonna be alright for ninety minutes or so.My Afternoons with Margueritte (2010) is a sweet little story about a great lump of a guy and a dainty old lady who meet on a park bench in a small French town and strike up a lovely friendship based on her passion for literature and his love of, er, listening.This film is incredibly twee and a bit sad like a lovely gallic, bittersweet hug. 'Oh mon dieu you are lovely ma cherie but you see I must leave you now for ma femme has le dinner sur le table'...something like that.The story is a good one though, based on the book La Tête en Friche (also the French title for this movie and translating to something like idle-headed!) by Marie-Sabine Roger. The theme is breaking apart traditional definitions of love and it ends with a beautiful soliloquy by Depardieu that begins "It's not a typical love affair, but love and tenderness, both are there", sounds more like the beginning of a Greek tragedy doesn't it? I would like to read the book now but I do think the French title is a bit harsh. Depardieu's character, Germain, is a bit thick but not in a horrible way and he has a heart of gold and for that matter a really foxy girlfriend which confused me for fully five minutes! Huscat would hate it, so glad I watched it toute seule. I had a little weep at the end, no spoilers, not going to tell you nothing, its just nice. Watch it for a cockle warming.

jules beremsen The movie may very well be cute, adorable, feel-good and all other similar adjectives. But I couldn't get past the first ten minutes of it due to the fact that, yet again (as french movies - or french men - do seem to prefer), I'm forced to face the hard-to-believe relationship between a pretty young woman and a fifty not-so-bright, poor and socially retarded man. Or french man, to be accurate. The age difference per se is not the issue, but the context and the lack of justification thereof.I've had my share of good french movies, and I shall not stand for any bullshit, little as it may seem.

WilliamCKH Jean Becker would never be able to make a living as a filmmaker in America. This should not be taken as a critique of him as a filmmaker, rather as a critique of America. This thought came into my mind as I sat virtually alone (with 2 others) in a 200 seat theatre, located in a booming city of over a million, on a Sunday evening, during the first week's release of his latest film MY AFTERNOONS WITH MARGUERITTE. How sad it is to see such a film virtually unnoticed here in the states. Oh well,....The film tells the story of Germain, played very subtly by Depardieu, who is a gentle giant, a bit slow, but lovable. He lives with an abusive mother, makes a living doing odd jobs around town, spends his free time gardening and drinking with his friends, has a girlfriend whom he adores, and is very much content with his life. One day he meets Margueritte, a woman of 95, sitting alone in the park, reading and feeding the pigeons. A friendship blossoms. They have conversations, exchanging their views on life, she reads to him and even persuades him to pick up a book himself.Marguerite is content with life, although lonely. She lives at a home for the aged, paid for by a distant relative. Germain gives her a companion, someone to share with the ups and downs of everyday life. She has seen and done much and now is ready to live out the rest of her days quietly. The ending of the film is quite wonderful and I will not spoil it for the reader. Like the ending of Becker's last widely released film CONVERSATIONS WITH MY GARDNER, it may appear to be overly sentimental. It shouldn't. It would be wonderful if more movies ended in such an upbeat way, celebrating life and the joys that simple human kindness can create.As I try to go back over the film's many details, I find in it so much beauty and wisdom, the kind that is so much needed, but missing from modern life...

Elena Dmitrieva This is a wonderful movie. I went with my husband. We didn't expect anything. On the way to the movies we joked who will be the first to fall asleep. The movie is very relaxing, with nice jokes here and there. After a busy day, it's a perfect treat for stressed people. I studied French years ago and of course don't remember much. The actors spoke rather slowly, so I could easily follow the lines with my lousy French. And it's France, with wine and tomatoes. People socialize in a small local pub. So, you feel as if you were a part of their community. Even though the movie is relaxing, the scenes move forward all the time. It's very entertaining in a quiet fashion. So, enjoy!