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Product Description
Emilie (Audrey Tautou) puts all her heart into running her busy hairdressing salon in sunny South of France. Meanwhile, her mother (Nathalie Baye), has had her heart broken, and needs love. When Emilie starts receiving anonymous love letters, she decides to send them on to her mother, sparking confusion, complications and dilemmas when the secret admirer (Sami Bouajila) is revealed. Beautiful Lies is a refreshing comedy of errors from the director of Priceless and the star of Amelie and Coco before Chanel.
Special Features:
- Exclusive Interview with Audrey Tautou
- UK Theatrical Trailer
Review
Matches the heights of Amelie... An enchanting romantic comedy --Marie Claire
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By LePapillon
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love Audrey Tautou, and I have seen almost every movie she has been in with the exception of maybe two films. When I read that this film was from the same director as 'Priceless', I had to purchase it (I was overseas during the time that it played in theatres, otherwise I would have seen it then). I expected this film to be just as great as Priceless, but it wasn't. There was something that felt a bit off/underdeveloped in terms of the plot and the directing seemed a bit 'free-style' for my taste. Audrey Tautou was lovely, but her character just didn't seem to have a strong goal/intentions as I have seen in other films. One of her greatest gifts as an actress is that she is so clear about who she is. In this film she seemed a bit wishy-washy, and it seems to be a directing flaw, not an acting one. However, all of the actors were spot on and gave wonderfully entertaining performances. I enjoyed the film and even watched it twice. I just didn't love it as much as I have loved other Audrey movies for the reasons I just mentioned. Hence, four stars, not five. But I do think it is worth watching as the actors are top notch and cinematography-wise there are a number of very pleasing moments.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Antenna
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
This is the latest in a spate of well-made, "feel good" films flowing out of France. Any irritation over its silliness is offset by the magnetic presence of Audrey Tautou, as Émilie Dandrieux, the to be honest rather capricious and devious joint owner of a hair salon. Not realising that an anonymous love letter has been sent to her by Jean, the salon's handsome odd-job man, Tautou retrieves this from the waste bin, and uses it verbatim to concoct a letter from an imaginary secret admirer to her mother Maddy. Émilie is convinced that this will serve to shake Maddy, sympathetically played by Nathalie Baye, out of her longstanding grief over being abandoned by her callous husband.
In the style of true French farce, the misunderstandings pile up as you may well imagine.
There are many amusing scenes, as when Émilie is forced to admit that she has sacked Jean, because the discovery that he is multilingual and Harvard- educated (he's lost his position as an interpreter owing to a nervous breakdown) makes her feel inadequate and uncertain about how to speak grammatically in his presence.
The denouement is cringe-making in places, the emotions superficial - except for Jean's at times inexplicable fancy for Émilie - and the ultimate happy ending not in doubt, but a little light-hearted entertainment probably never did anyone much harm, and it is a way of practising one's French. You may also like the fact that the main characters are all flawed in various ways, especially Émilie, which may make them appear more human.
My only query is why the title was changed from "De Vrais Mensonges" which translated literally as "Real Lies" seems more apt.
In the style of true French farce, the misunderstandings pile up as you may well imagine.
There are many amusing scenes, as when Émilie is forced to admit that she has sacked Jean, because the discovery that he is multilingual and Harvard- educated (he's lost his position as an interpreter owing to a nervous breakdown) makes her feel inadequate and uncertain about how to speak grammatically in his presence.
The denouement is cringe-making in places, the emotions superficial - except for Jean's at times inexplicable fancy for Émilie - and the ultimate happy ending not in doubt, but a little light-hearted entertainment probably never did anyone much harm, and it is a way of practising one's French. You may also like the fact that the main characters are all flawed in various ways, especially Émilie, which may make them appear more human.
My only query is why the title was changed from "De Vrais Mensonges" which translated literally as "Real Lies" seems more apt.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Rae_B
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A story about a daughter who goes to some lengths to make her Mother feel loved and special again. Quirky, but not in the Amelie sense, Audry Tatou's character shows many similarities to the character she played in Amelie. Intriguing to the end, it is a very watchable movie.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
My friend bought this for me because she knows Amelie is my all time favourite film and we really enjoyed watching it together, the performances were all excellent and the plot was good and mostly plausible which is a bonus for French farce as they can stretch credulity at times (see Cockles and Muscles for comparison! you'll die laughing at the absurd ending!)I actually think Sami Bouajila played it brilliantly. Audreys character in this is not another Amelie as she is a more flawed person and does not earn your sympathy in the same way at all. Great performance nonetheless.
Two criticisms, firstly from me is that any review suggesting this is as good as Amelie, has not seen Amelie. Amelie is a magical otherworldly fantasy adventure on a different level to most films for craft, script and acting. That is not to say this film is bad, just that it isn't Amelie and does not stand the comparison. And secondly from my friend who is a bit impatient with subtitles because as she rightly pointed out it is not made clear anywhere on the packaging(except in the microscopic technical box on the back) that this is a foreign language film. Despite this she enjoyed the film but did feel misled by the packaging.
Two criticisms, firstly from me is that any review suggesting this is as good as Amelie, has not seen Amelie. Amelie is a magical otherworldly fantasy adventure on a different level to most films for craft, script and acting. That is not to say this film is bad, just that it isn't Amelie and does not stand the comparison. And secondly from my friend who is a bit impatient with subtitles because as she rightly pointed out it is not made clear anywhere on the packaging(except in the microscopic technical box on the back) that this is a foreign language film. Despite this she enjoyed the film but did feel misled by the packaging.
By lorelei
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really like Audrey Tautou but was dissapointed in this film. The plot isnt satisfying at all, rather shallow and I was bored again and again, its a bd script and unconvincing and I was astonished that she actually acted in such a movie.
Pity I bought it, I wont watch it again.
Pity I bought it, I wont watch it again.
5.0 out of 5 stars
a charming and delight full film. I have bought further copies to give to other members of my family
4 Mar 2013
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
I tend to enjoy French films and find this exceptional. Audrey Tautou is a pretty girl and plays the part very well
By Marion
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I ordered this as a birthday present for a friend and it arrived within two days (I chose first class delivery) and in perfect condition. She said she loved the film.
Format:DVD
When this film arrived in cinemas in the UK, it was advertised quite widely including in tube stations in London etc, but I missed it. Now on DVD I have finally had the chance to watch it, but my first impression was not as good as it was for 'Priceless' in which the same director and the same actress, Audrey Tautou, were involved. There are positive aspects too, as I said in the title, it is a very pleasant film and will see a lot of beautiful scenery of the town the story begins, the land scape around the hill, the eternally blue and high skies etc. Audrey Tautou was as good as always, most men (if not all men) would be attracted to a girl like her. I imagine the role she played was challenging, as she would've needed to show the pretty side as well as the harsh side as a beauty salon owner. I think she played very well. Her mother was played by another great actress and she was funny too. It's a nice and peaceful French film in a quite small town - these are the positive aspects I liked about.
However, something was not quite so appealing as other films that Audrey Tautou has appeared. Obviously the strongest marketing point for this film was Audrey, but it needs to be supported by other elements such as a good script and editing. I like slow stories that are often seen in European films, and the colours and the casts were good too, but I think Audrey's part was somewhat 'buried' with her mother's part, as she is one of the main characters in this story. If Audrey hadn't been in this film, I doubt if it would have ever made it in cinemas in the UK at all, and the DVDs would have been released only in France or in Japan with no English subtitles.... Read more ›
However, something was not quite so appealing as other films that Audrey Tautou has appeared. Obviously the strongest marketing point for this film was Audrey, but it needs to be supported by other elements such as a good script and editing. I like slow stories that are often seen in European films, and the colours and the casts were good too, but I think Audrey's part was somewhat 'buried' with her mother's part, as she is one of the main characters in this story. If Audrey hadn't been in this film, I doubt if it would have ever made it in cinemas in the UK at all, and the DVDs would have been released only in France or in Japan with no English subtitles.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
shocking
I find it shocking that the man starts an affair with the mother and then another one with the daughter
Published 4 months ago by lapeste.fr
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gentle and romantic
Excellent film. Gentle and romantic storyline. Audrey Tautou / Nathalie Baye pairing is a great idea.Good supporting cast. A good choice for a girls' evening.
Published 9 months ago by Dma Macneill
1.0 out of 5 stars
Most contrived thing imaginable
I enjoyed the director's 'Priceless', which, while not exactly a masterpiece, was funny and in proper screwball tradition, making us both laugh and care about the characters. Read more
Published 9 months ago by ffta34
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful lies DVD
Delightful romantic comedy in the tradition of an amusing comedy of errors. Perfect for an evening with gilrfriends, popcorn and lots of chilled wine!
Published 9 months ago by Val
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as...
I do really love mostly everything Audrey Tautou does, and that not only because Amelie is one of my all time favourite movies. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Annie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Typical Audrey Tautou
A hairdresser forwards a passionate love letter to her mother, with predictable consequences. A simple plot delivered with charm and amusement in a way that only Tautou can.
Published 11 months ago by GBlade
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Lies
A very good film - just the thing for an evening of light entertainment with friends. The sub titles in English were most helpful.
Published 11 months ago by Gautier
1.0 out of 5 stars
A Disappointment
I am afraid I found this film so contrived and badly written that I gave up before the end. I had great hopes as one of my favorite actresses starred but this is no Amelie. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Don
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