Jeux d'enfants (2003)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Yann Samuell

Writer:

Yann Samuell (writer)

Release Date:

14 May 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

From the visionary mind of director Yann Samuell comes France's hit comedy!

Plot:

As adults, best friends Julien and Sophie continue the odd game they started as children -- a fearless...

Plot Keywords:

Game | Daring | Urination | Female Nudity | Fake Marriage Proposal

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Guillaume Canet	...	Julien Janvier
Marion Cotillard	...	Sophie Kowalsky
Thibault Verhaeghe	...	Julien à 8 ans
Joséphine Lebas-Joly	...	Sophie à 8 ans
Emmanuelle Grönvold	...	Julien's Mother
Gérard Watkins	...	Julien's Father
Gilles Lellouche	...	Sergei Nimov Nimovitch
Julia Faure	...	Sophie's Sister
Laëtizia Venezia Tarnowska	...	Christelle Louise Bouchard (as Laetizia Venezia)
Élodie Navarre	...	Aurélie Miller
Nathalie Nattier	...	Sophie à 80 ans
Robert Willar	...	Julien (80 ans)
Frédéric Geerts	...	Igor
Manuela Sanchez	...	Teacher
Philippe Drecq	...	School Principal

Also Known As:

Love Me If You Dare (International: English title)
Mieux que la vie (France) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

Canada:93 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Japan:90 min

Country:

France | Belgium

Language:

French

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Japan:PG-12 | Mexico:B15 | Hungary:14 | South Korea:15 | Germany:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:NC-16 (cut) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Philippines:R-13

Filming Locations:

Liège, Belgium

Company:

Nord-Ouest Productions

Trivia:

The film is dedicated to Yann Samuell's parents-in-law Gerard and Sonia. Gerard and Sonia lent their house to Yann Samuell while he was writing the screenplay. The two were killed in a car crash a week before the film was released.

Goofs:

Continuity: The first time we see the bus driver chasing the bus his hat falls off towards the left side of the road. The second time it drops directly behind him to the right of the middle.

Quotes:

Julien Jeanvier: [talking about Igor the gym coach] And how big are his biceps again?
Sophie Kowalski: Bigger than your brain
Julien Jeanvier: And you like this guy?
Sophie Kowalski: As a second choice
[starts walking towards Igor]
Julien Jeanvier: [shouting] Second choice... who's your first? Sophie...

Soundtrack:

La Vie en Rose

Until death us do part

To understand "Love Me If You Dare", one must harken back to childhood when fondness translated to teasing. So it is with Julien and Sophie, the central characters of this film, who in childhood become fast friends because of a game they share (or visa versa) which involves one challenging the other to do something outrageous while passing a gayly decorated candy canister to them. Upon completion of the dare, the canisters is passed back and the dared person announces "Game!". And so it goes, back and forth, as the children grow to adolescents and then to adults with the brinksmanship and friendship becoming increasingly substantial and the ubiquitous canister the ever present reminder of their unspoken bond. Finely crafted though sometimes disjointed, this creative work is full of life and energy and passion and its ever escalating story is maddeningly captivating and unsatisfying as it waxes toward its inevitable and somewhat clumsy conclusion. A love it or hate it audience dividing flick, "Love Me..." can be appreciated on as many levels as it can be condemned. The only way you'll know if you like it is to watch it. (A-)