Riviera Revenge: Exploring Infidelity Provides Much Laughter in This New French Comedy

The sunny and blue skies of the French Riviera are about to darken in Riviera Revenge, a comedy directed by Ivan Calbérac.

This film stormed the box office in France and also proved a hit at the recent French Film Festival.

The synopsis is alluring and should prove a crowd pleaser once released in Australian cinemas.

After reading some old love letters in a forgotten old box, ex-military and recently retired Francois discovers that his wife Annie had an affair with a ‘guitar playing hippy’ friend of his, 40 years earlier. He threatens to divorce her and confront her lover.

“I’d forgotten, it was ages ago. Come eat, dinner’s getting cold,” Annie casually responds. The illicit love affair lasted a month, and she describes it as “a moment of madness which she put a stop to.” Francois feels betrayed, and believes she lived a lie for 40 years.

The hilarity commences when he decides to travel to Nice in search of her ex-lover. Adding to the nutty nature of the story, he decides to bring Annie along, as she has a clear mental picture of his appearance.

Francois then attempts to avenge her infidelity by reconnecting with his first love and discovers that he may not be the biological father to his son.

Throw in a daughter who — unbeknownst to him — is in a lesbian relationship, and you have all the elements for 90 minutes of sheer cinematic madness that should have audiences rolling down the aisle in therapeutic fits of laughter!

Andre Dussollier and Sabine Azema are hilarious as the mischievous 70-something Francois and Annie, a couple who’ve been kept busy and seem to enjoy all the ups and downs the romantic secret of a bygone era has provided.

Should Annie have kept quiet to save the marriage? Would Francois have forgiven her had she told him 40 years earlier? Will Francois forgive Annie, or will they divorce?

A mix of mutual respect, conflict resolution skills and positivity are said to form the pillars of a family unity which fortunately for audiences, are disregarded by the pivotal characters in this film therefore providing an abundance of enjoyment.

The writing is one of the key elements to the success of Riviera Revenge. After the affair is announced the surprises in the story continue to thrive.

The dialogue is deliciously naughty – “What does mum see in dad – a good lay perhaps?” is a line of dialogue which quintessentially highlights the comedic style of writing utilised.

The mood darkens slightly in the second act as the seriousness of the storylines accelerate and overshadow the comedic elements of the story.

This delightfully silly cinematic offering has heart and soul with relatable themes and delivers a sugar sweet finale which won’t disappoint.

***1/2

In Cinemas June 26