Crustacés et coquillages (2005)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Directors:

Olivier Ducastel (co-director)
Jacques Martineau (co-director)

Writers:

Olivier Ducastel (scenario) &
Jacques Martineau (scenario)

Release Date:

30 March 2005 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Plot:

For summer vacation, Marc (Melki) and Béatrix (Tedeschi) take their two kids to the seaside house of Marc's youth, where their daughter takes up with a biker and their sons roams the beach with his best friend, who is in love with him. Things get steamier when Béatrix's lover Mathieu shows up, and Marc's old flame appears.

Plot Keywords:

Beach | Gay Parent | Infidelity | Teenage Sexuality | Provence

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Valeria Bruni Tedeschi	...	Béatrix
Gilbert Melki	...	Marc
Jean-Marc Barr	...	Didier
Jacques Bonnaffé	...	Mathieu
Edouard Collin	...	Martin
Romain Torres	...	Charly
Sabrina Seyvecou	...	Laura
Yannick Baudin	...	Michaël
Julien Weber	...	Sylvain
Sébastien Cormier	...	Laura's New Friend
Marion Roux	...	Billiard Player

Also Known As:

Cockles and Muscles (UK)
Cote d'Azur (USA)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | UK:15 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Hong Kong:III | Australia:M | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

La gare de La Redonne-Ensuès, Ensuès-la-Redonne, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Company:

Agat Films & Cie

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 2006 Glitter Awards (2006) (V)

In The Game Of Love, All's Fair In Love And Waves and Seashells...

Now THIS is what summer movies should be! As perfect as the best chocolate soufflé, light and airy on your tongue, with a taste that lingers only as long as it's in your mouth. The best part is that once consumed, you will even respect yourself in the morning. And like all good foreign films, you will suddenly find yourself forgetting that it even has subtitles! Marc (the stunningly handsome Melki) has bought his family to the gorgeous seaside villa of his childhood, inherited from one of his aunts. Understanding and vivacious wife Beatrix (Bruni-Tedeschi), typically rebellious son Charly (Torres) and headstrong daughter Laura (Seyvecou) all find themselves enjoying their sunny sojourn (or not) for various reasons; Laura conveniently takes off for the week with her hunky biker boyfriend; Charly's enjoying "hot showers" just a little too much, especially when his own buddy Martin (Collin) shows up to spend time with the family, (but most especially with Charly, who may or may not be the love of his life--or at least the summer), and Beatrix is perfectly content to make time with her hot hubby, while both are under the influence of "violets," a particular kind of mussel that seems to light an amorous fire under them both.

Ah, but what would a French family sex comedy of errors be without a few secrets? Besides the one about Charly and Martin NOT being lovers, (but just try telling his cynical dad that!), there's Beatrix's side man, Mathieu, (Bonnaffe), who must be given credit for a funny and surprisingly sexy performance as the most average-looking 'other guy' I've seen in many moons, and Luc Besson favorite Jean Marc Barr as the studly, horny 'island plumber' Didier, who has more than a vested interest in Marc and his family, adding more comic calamity to the chaos that eventually ensues.

To say more would spoil some of the sassy and silly delights that await those looking for something different but not serious, which even includes a couple of musical numbers (!).

This was showing at the One In Ten Pride Film Festival in D.C., which was an excellent venue for it. The English title for it is "Cote d'Azure," but by any name, it's still more worth your time than half the American crap that's clogging up multiplexes right this minute. So, quick! Catch this one before they remake it and stick some lameoid graduates from the Disney channel into it...or try to cast Robin Williams as the father (YIKES!)