French twist is a lighthearted comedy which centers around three characters in a love triangle not often seen in mainstream film. When it was made in 1995, this film was very controversial in America due to the nature and portrayal of sexuality in the film. However it was accepted more openly in Europe at the time. Now however the film and its subject matter, while still controversial to a point, are much more accepted in America. The characters in the film are good. Not incredibly deep but they are not two dimensional. You do feel for them and care for their feelings. And the film does a good job of having you care for each of the characters at some point or another during the film so that it is hard to pick sides and root for a single character. This film does a good job a showing the double standards between woman and men. Furthermore being a comedy it makes it easier to take in the once "edgy" and still somewhat controversial subject matter of the film. The theme throughout the film is that of love. The film tries to show that love does not depend on one's sex but rather on the people themselves. This is made clear many times through the movie. The topic of the film may seem rather heavy but the director and actors do an excellent job of keeping the movie light and comedic. There are plenty of points throughout the movie that were both surprising and rather amusing. Overall I think that the movie is definitely worth watching. It is a funny comedy and it does make you think. If you like lighthearted comedies which are outside the norm, you will enjoy this movie.
French Twist
1995 [FRENCH]
Comedy / Drama / Romance
Plot summary
After learning of her husband's infidelities, a housewife invites an itinerant lesbian to move in with them. None of their lives will ever be the same again.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
August 13, 2022 at 10:38 PM
Director
Top cast
Movie Reviews
A lighthearted comedy that will make you laugh and think
Explicit lesbian film
As a comedy, the film stands out as it blends in the sexuality and gender issues in. It portraits these relatively controversial issues in an explicit approach. It won Best Screenplay at the 1995 French Academy of Cinema and got nominated for Best Picturefor 1995 French Academy of Cinema and Best Foreign Language Film for 1995 Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Personally, I think this movie is a successful one in terms of the story plot. The story line is easy to follow and the editing style is just the right pace. Things do not get messed up even the relationship between the three is rather complicated. The scenes are nicely set up and every single scene contributes their importance to the whole film. Some may argue that such issue should not be shown in such explicit style, for instance, when Loli and Marijo were naked in the bath tube, at least it should not be rated "Universal" in Europe. However, we may have to refer back to the cultural context since it is rated differently in America. For European countries, it may be accepted to present controversial issues such as sexuality and lesbian relationships in a direct way compared to other countries such as the ones in Asia, where these are considered as taboos.
Overall, I think this is an entertaining film and it is worth watching. This movie is recommended to anyone who wants to know more about gender and sexuality issues, or anyone above illegal age.
Funny but not just...
The premise of this film may appear ridiculous. How could a straight woman suddenly hesitate on her sexuality when a very butch woman turns up one fine day and fall in love with her? But the premise is but an excuse for an interesting comedy, based on a classic menage a trois, but with a twist. Characters are interesting. Victoria Abril as the neglected housewife is very good. Alain Chabat as the Casanova, sleeping with anybody (at least with any woman) is superb. The scene in which his daughter visits him in his office is funny then poignant. The last scene of the film (cut from the American and British version) is unexpected. The regretted Ticky Holgado is perfect in his role as Alain Chabat colleague. As far as Josiane Balasko, who wrote the film as well as starred in it, she may not be the most convincing Butch lesbian you will find, but she wrote a good film, funny, bitter sweet, which won't leave you indifferent.