The film is a french rom-com that sometimes hints at being some kind if neo-noir, but none of the build up is ever well payed. It has some interesting choices, but it's cinematography is dull. The characters have a lot of hateful characteristics but you end up kind of understanding their point of view, maybe even liking them a little bit. There are a lot of questions made by the film thatyou could argue at never getting an answer. It's not bad, it's not great, it's okay, you can whatch it if you really like french movies
13 Reviews
It starts good, it ends ok.
effeallaseconda15 May 2020
Second movie as a director for Louis Garrell, and (as in Two Friends) he pays tribute to the cinema that made him the director (and actor) he is today.
The only problem is (for me) the conclusion of his movies, always quickly solving the good intuition of the start. His love for love triangles and ironic ways to talk about love disasters is a signature, and I wish he will be able to end a movie the way he knows how to start them.
... commitment world over is down
bjarias23 October 2022
... Louis Garrel has to be one of luckiest men in the world... constantly working with some of the most gorgeous women in films (here with his wife Laetitia Casta), and being paid handsomely for doing so
... this an interesting little movie raising a few questions that never get answered... to ask them now would give away too much of the storyline, and you need not knowing where this is all going to make watching anyway worthwhile
... overall the production was okay... the ending being the greatest disappointment, and final unanswered question... French films notably do this alot... as in most other Western countries, the divorce rate in France has risen in the last decade, where now more than half of all marriages end in divorce... seeing this film it's understandable why.
... this an interesting little movie raising a few questions that never get answered... to ask them now would give away too much of the storyline, and you need not knowing where this is all going to make watching anyway worthwhile
... overall the production was okay... the ending being the greatest disappointment, and final unanswered question... French films notably do this alot... as in most other Western countries, the divorce rate in France has risen in the last decade, where now more than half of all marriages end in divorce... seeing this film it's understandable why.
shallow rom-com that is neither romantic nor funny.
random-7077822 October 2019
Wow, this was bad. it was marketed as a"feminist take on the rom-com' but coming from Louis Garrel who displayed his deep misogyny with his signing onto a petition calling for the release of director Roman Polanski after his arrest in relation to his 1977 charge for drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl -- I doubt the he has the sensibilities for any "feminist take."
If course feminism in French film is more than an oximoron anyway. The feminism in this is having Johhny Depp's teenage daughter playing a liberated character chasing a near 40 year old man. ok. Yeah.
I felt this could have been one of harvey wienstiens films!
If course feminism in French film is more than an oximoron anyway. The feminism in this is having Johhny Depp's teenage daughter playing a liberated character chasing a near 40 year old man. ok. Yeah.
I felt this could have been one of harvey wienstiens films!
Very good
sumaya_muhammad9 February 2020
First time for me to watch a 70 mins full movie but it turned out great. This and the fast pacing of the scenes were enough to show the life of Abel. Louis did a great job acting and directing. Also big fan of Lily-rose Depp.
Louis Garrel's lightweight drama initially seems like a vanity project for its writer
babybuletgani16 December 2019
Louis Garrel's lightweight drama initially seems like a vanity project for its writer, director and star. Nine years on from a brutal break-up, his endearingly ruffled Abel finds himself in a love triangle with the widowed Marianne (Garrel's real-life spouse Laetitia Casta) and LilyRose Depp's obsessive Eve. But skipping spryly between romantic comedy, reflective character piece and gentle farce, it surprises by putting its two women firmly in charge, leaving its assumed lead as little more than their bemused plaything. At just 75 minutes, it breezes by, though Casta's wily turn lingers beyond the credits.
really?
guillevica7 July 2019
Breezy rom-com from French actor turned director still needs a few more twists and turns in the plot
Turfseer1 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
A Faithful Man is actor turned director Louis Garrel's foray into romantic comedy. Garrel, son of noted French director Phillippe Garell, is also co-writer here and ends up clocking in at a mere 75 minutes of screen time. You might suspect just looking at the running time that the film might be deficient in terms of its basic narrative. And in fact (sad to report), this is where indeed Garrel's effort sadly leaves us "asking for more."
A Faithful Man begins interestingly enough with Garrel himself playing the film's hapless protagonist, Abel, a freelance TV journalist of sorts, who is blindsided by his girlfriend of three years, Marianne (Laetitia Casta) who announces one day out of the blue that she's pregnant by Abel's best friend Paul and plans on moving in with him post-haste.
Flash forward nine years with Abel still pining for Marianne who is suddenly left a widow when Paul drops dead of an apparent heart attack (Paul is never seen on screen). That's Abel's cue to get back together with his former love, only to suddenly hesitate when Marianne's pre-pubescent son Joseph (Joseph Engel), a fledgling crime buff, informs that he believes that his mother poisoned his father.
With that engaging plot twist, we're expecting the film might veer in the direction of neo-noir but again sad to report, nothing of the sort transpires. Rather, Marianne pours cold water on our hopes of suspense when she informs Abel that she's aware that Joseph has already been peddling that story around, perhaps to ward off any future moves by potential suitors of his mother.
The rest of A Faithful Man focuses on Eve, Paul's younger sister (played by Johnny Depp's sister, Lily-Rose Depp) who reveals that she's been obsessed with Abel since childhood. Again, there's a hint that we might be veering back into neo-noir territory as Eve has the potential of being some kind of "Fatal Attraction" nut case. Such desires are quashed, again by Marianne, who (in classic French style) suggests that Abel have a romantic fling with Eve, to mollify her and perhaps assuage any of Abel's self-doubts about their relationship.
After the Eve-Abel hookup, she sours on him after Joseph spills the beans to Eve that Abel was acting at his mother's behest. The rather quick denouement shows Abel and Marianne reconciled, with little Joseph now accepting Abel back in the fold as potential stepfather.
Garrel shows talent as a director of actors, all of whom offer up breezy, convincing performances, trapped in "les affaires de coeur." But still plot-wise Garrel and co-writer Jean-Claude Carrière could have proffered up a bit more in terms of twists and turns in the plot, which may have resulted in a better reception from the critics, who so far have given the film a mixed reception.
A Faithful Man begins interestingly enough with Garrel himself playing the film's hapless protagonist, Abel, a freelance TV journalist of sorts, who is blindsided by his girlfriend of three years, Marianne (Laetitia Casta) who announces one day out of the blue that she's pregnant by Abel's best friend Paul and plans on moving in with him post-haste.
Flash forward nine years with Abel still pining for Marianne who is suddenly left a widow when Paul drops dead of an apparent heart attack (Paul is never seen on screen). That's Abel's cue to get back together with his former love, only to suddenly hesitate when Marianne's pre-pubescent son Joseph (Joseph Engel), a fledgling crime buff, informs that he believes that his mother poisoned his father.
With that engaging plot twist, we're expecting the film might veer in the direction of neo-noir but again sad to report, nothing of the sort transpires. Rather, Marianne pours cold water on our hopes of suspense when she informs Abel that she's aware that Joseph has already been peddling that story around, perhaps to ward off any future moves by potential suitors of his mother.
The rest of A Faithful Man focuses on Eve, Paul's younger sister (played by Johnny Depp's sister, Lily-Rose Depp) who reveals that she's been obsessed with Abel since childhood. Again, there's a hint that we might be veering back into neo-noir territory as Eve has the potential of being some kind of "Fatal Attraction" nut case. Such desires are quashed, again by Marianne, who (in classic French style) suggests that Abel have a romantic fling with Eve, to mollify her and perhaps assuage any of Abel's self-doubts about their relationship.
After the Eve-Abel hookup, she sours on him after Joseph spills the beans to Eve that Abel was acting at his mother's behest. The rather quick denouement shows Abel and Marianne reconciled, with little Joseph now accepting Abel back in the fold as potential stepfather.
Garrel shows talent as a director of actors, all of whom offer up breezy, convincing performances, trapped in "les affaires de coeur." But still plot-wise Garrel and co-writer Jean-Claude Carrière could have proffered up a bit more in terms of twists and turns in the plot, which may have resulted in a better reception from the critics, who so far have given the film a mixed reception.
!5 minutes in and you will be hooked
cekadah7 October 2019
When I started watching this movie my first impression was 'oh, another pain & angst love story'. But after !5 minutes into the film I was hooked and had to see it to the ending.
There is a sudden and unexpected statement from one of the main characters that captured my attention at about the 15 minute mark and I was hooked on what was going to happen to Abel, Marianne, Eve, and Joseph!
This movie will leave you guessing and wanting more at the end. Louis Garrel did a superb writing/directing/acting job here and kudos to him!
There is a sudden and unexpected statement from one of the main characters that captured my attention at about the 15 minute mark and I was hooked on what was going to happen to Abel, Marianne, Eve, and Joseph!
This movie will leave you guessing and wanting more at the end. Louis Garrel did a superb writing/directing/acting job here and kudos to him!
Authentic dynamics here
hannynorbert16 June 2019
I like romantic French movies, they revolve around the dynamics of relationships not in a 'rom-com shallow' way, at least most of the time. This movie is no exception - the plot is believable, I can imagine it happening exactly the same way in real life.
Acting is also good, pace is perfect - the movie is 75 minutes altogeher -, nothing is too dramatic or cheesy. Well done!
Acting is also good, pace is perfect - the movie is 75 minutes altogeher -, nothing is too dramatic or cheesy. Well done!
love the deadpan laughs
Henry_Seggerman25 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
At 1:15, plays like a short story. Superficially, this is another featherweight melodrama about modern French relationships, many which, like Rohmer's work, were essentially updates on Renoir's classic LA RONDE. What makes this movie exceptional are some of the absolutely deadpan lines of dialogue, especially from Joseph and Eve, which are utterly absurd and screamingly funny. When Marianne enters with herbal tea and Garrel tips his hat to the coffee-cup scene in NOTORIOUS, I nearly fell off the couch!
Yes, you will be hooked
bob99827 November 2020
First, let me celebrate the 60 years in the business that Jean-Claude Carriere will soon mark. He'll turn 90 next year, and this old collaborator with Luis Bunuel, Louis Malle and so many other great directors is still writing lovely scripts.
Second, this is an impressive film from Louis Garrel, who manages to pull off the always challenging feat of directing and playing the male lead. I thought only men like Orson Welles could do that. Garrel plays Abel as somewhat hangdog: imagine what it would be like to hear from your live-in girlfriend that she's pregnant and she's through with you because she's been having an affair with your best friend--ouch!--then, years later, her son confides in you that he thinks his mom killed his dad. Superb acting here from Garrel and the wonderful kid Joseph Engel.
Finally, Laetitia Casta and Lily-Rose Depp are both very good. Casta's part is the more challenging, she's got to be like Maria Casares in Les dames du Bois de Boulogne, and she brings it off.
It is what it is
beaferjimy24 March 2021
Watch it with no expectations. Don't expect Louis to direct like his father. It's a lightweight romcom that you just have to flow with and let yourself enjoy. It's not a cinematographic piece of art. The characters are good and the actors amazing. Louis doesn't disappoint to portray a romantic and sentimental kinda men (I can always trust him with that). Feels natural and fun.
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