writers_reign With The Learners Pierre Salvadori impinges on Francis Veber territory - two conflicting personalities obliged to share a screen for 90 minutes or so - and he brings it off rather well, so much so in fact that both Guillaume Depardieu and Francois Cluzet were nominated for Cesars (Most Promising and Best Actor respectively) and Depardieu actually won - though Cluzet, a far better actor, went one better when he won a Best Actor Cesar a couple of years ago for Ne le dis a personne. This was only Salvadori's third film and only slightly inferior to his second Cible Emouvant; he turned out another faux Veber with Apres Vous and most lately ripped off Breakfast At Tiffaney's with Hors de Prix. There's much to admire in The Learners both verbal and visual and arguably Guillaume Depardieu has still to find a role as satisfying as Fred which is not a problem afflicting Cluzet, veteran of a good dozen fine roles in fine films. I was glad to have caught up with this one at last after missing it first time round.

FilmCriticLalitRao Les Apprentis is a moving saga of two impoverished friends.Antoine and Fred are unfortunate in all stages of their existence.Their financial lives are completely ruined.They are not at all lucky with their emotional existence as their girl friends have left them.What is interesting for the discerning viewer to watch is their peculiar camaraderie that allows them to go ahead in their lives despite numerous ups and downs.Pierre Salvadori has effectively created a tender tale of emotional calamities.He has elicited excellent acting performances from his entire cast.Guillaume Depardieu is splendid as gawky photographer Fred.Les Appentis takes a bizarre twist towards the end when neurotic Antoine tries to hide his emotions from Fred.It is impossible to find a parallel to this film in an array of cynical tradition of French Cinema.It easily brings to mind Claude Lelouch's Robert et Robert.The impressive soundtrack is capable of enlivening gloomy spirits.The strength of the film lies in the fact that it gives viewers ample time to make their own judgments

stryker-5 How often does a comedy film actually make you laugh out loud? There were several occasions when this one had me roaring. It's the story of two young men squatting in a Paris apartment and scraping a living of sorts. This is Frenchmen Behaving Badly.Antione (Francois Cluzot) is the nervy hypochondriac with literary pretensions. His physical resemblance to Dustin Hoffman is remarkable, and he exhibits the same quirky neurotic intensity.Fred is played by Guillaume Depardieu, son of Gerard. Whereas Antoine has bouts of self-loathing over this down-and-out existence, Fred is the genuine article. He lies and steals as easily as breathing, and he has refined laziness into an art form.The relationship of the two men is the wellspring of much of the humour, and the pairing works splendidly. Their bitter-sweet partnership is both funny and touching. Their high point, the relief and elation after the burglary, is embodied in their early morning walk through the food market, the symbolic return of colour and prosperity to their lives. When the downturn comes, Fred proves himself to be much more than a vacant layabout, and friendship ultimately triumphs over illness and despair.The Paris of this film isn't the 'ville lumiere' of monuments and rive-gauche cafes. This is more 19th arondissement than 9th. Rather than designers' studios, these real, gritty streets are lined with carpet shops.A nicely-observed comedy of human manners and foibles, "Les Apprentis" has liberal helpings of warmth and charm, and its greatest blessing is, it's very funny.

MossMan A couple of dead-beats living together in a friend's flat find out that they're going to have to move out. Now they have to get hold of some money, and sort out their love-lives while they're about it.Basically a buddy movie, but with some absolutely brilliant moments - made me laugh out loud several times. I won't describe what creates these scenes, since it could spoil it for you, but I would definitely recommend it for anyone who can speak French or read the subtitles (as I did).9/10