Villa Des Roses [DVD]

English/Belgian/Dutch/Luxembourgian coproductions don't happen every day, making Villa des Roses of interest from the start. Director Frank van Passel focuses on the pain of remembering in this drama set at the turn of World War I, in which young French widow Louise comes to work as a chambermaid at a dilapidated English guest house. What could have been an offbeat human comedy soon becomes a conventional romantic tragedy, in which the heroine falls for rakish artist Richard Grünewald, with all the frustration and heartache their liaison promises.

Julie Delpy is strong on wistful charm, while Shaun Dingwall gives a confident performance. Timothy West and Harriet Walter are characterful as the ill-matched proprietors, but the most memorable showing is that of Shirley Henderson as streetwise "cook general" Ella. The other guests are little more than a background presence, their narrative potential unused. This is stylish film-making, even if an overall feeling of Anna Karenina meets Upstairs Downstairs is hard to escape.

On the DVD: Villa des Roses' widescreen format reproduces the film's faded elegance with commendable naturalness, though the sombre half-lights and Paul M van Brugge's moody score make Paris seem anything but "gay". The theatrical trailer is also included. --Richard Whitehouse

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"A fine cast matched by excellent décor and atmosphere"

"… it has fireworks in its heart. The performances are exquisite."

"… a mannered style and dry humour reminiscent of Amelie"

"Recommended to anyone who liked Delicatessen"

A brilliantly dark and imaginative romantic comedy set in Paris in 1913 as France hovers on the brink of World War I. The Villa des Roses is a rundown Paris boarding house run by an eccentric English couple (Harriet Walter - Sense and Sensibility and Timothy West - Ever After), who have built a piece of England on foreign soil. The arrival of a beautiful new maid, Louise (Julie Delpy - Before Sunrise) brings a new lease of life to the mad collection of guests, especially the men …

Louise embarks on a doomed passionate relationship with a young German artist. As Europe goes into war, so does the Villa and the lives of the wacky guests within. Reminiscent of Delicatessen and Amelie, this British production of a darkly comic love affair is set to enflame the coldest of hearts and bring a wicked smile to everyone’s face.