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6.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Atout coeur remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a thing for old French comedies that move at the speed of a leisurely afternoon stroll, you’ll probably find something to love here. It’s light, it’s breezy, and it doesn't try to solve the world's problems. If you need explosions or a plot that makes perfect logical sense, you will hate this. It’s a movie that relies entirely on charm and the kind of mistaken identity tropes that felt ancient even when this was made.
Arlette is the sort of character you can't help but root for, mostly because her situation is so absurdly stressful. Her mother means well, I guess, but marrying your kid off to a fake count is a bold strategy. The fake count is a piece of work, honestly. He’s the kind of villain who is more annoying than threatening, which works perfectly for the tone.
There is a lot of running around in hallways and doors opening and closing at the exact wrong time. It’s theater, really. You can almost smell the old velvet curtains. The performances are big—sometimes a little too big—but that’s the style, isn't it? Saturnin Fabre is having the time of his life on screen, and it’s contagious.
I found myself zoning out a bit during the middle stretch. The pacing gets a little caught up in its own knots. It feels like a lighter version of the confusion you find in The Mysterious Mystery!, though maybe a bit less chaotic.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a nice way to spend eighty minutes. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Torchy Turns Cupid, though much more polite. Don't go looking for deep meaning. Just enjoy the ride. 🎞️