Populaire (2012)
R - 111 min - Comedy - 28 November 2012
Big Blue Sky Rating : 6.6/10
Director : Régis Roinsard
Writers : Régis Roinsard, Daniel Presley
Stars : Romain Duris, Féodor Atkine, Déborah François, Bérénice Bejo
Spring, 1958. 21-year-old Rose Pamphyle lives with her grouchy widower father who runs the village store. Engaged to the son of the local mechanic, she seems destined for the quiet, drudgery-filled life of a housewife. But that's not the life Rose longs for. When she travels to Lisieux in Normandy, where charismatic insurance agency boss Louis Echard is advertising for a secretary, the ensuing interview is a disaster. But Rose reveals a special gift - she can type at extraordinary speed. Unwittingly, the young woman awakens the dormant sports fan in Louis. If she wants the job she'll have to compete in a speed typing competition. Whatever sacrifices Rose must make to reach the top, Louis declares himself her trainer. He'll turn her into the fastest girl not only in the country, but in the world! But a love of sport doesn't always mix well with love itself ...
Endearing comic love story
If it weren't for the very specific year during which the action in this movie is set, the perfect music for this would have been 10cc's 'I'm Not in Love' - Of course Louis is in love, and only he doesn't realise it. You can forgive him, after all, this is post second world war and he has lost too many meaningful people to want to risk another loss. Rose has perfect visceral understanding of the feelings of those around her. She's also a super-fast one finger typist. We 21st century equivalents may have super-fast thumbs instead. The period feel, superb costumes and believable dialogue make this a very satisfying production. Not sure about the brief bedroom scene that doesn't belong here. Fancy a good, uplifting entertainment, choose this!
Watch Populaire Trailer :
OR
