“Sarah Bernhardt, the divine”, “The Beautiful Role”, “Under the Nuts”… the films to see this week (or not)

A special Made in France selection this week, to highlight the diversity of French cinema.

“Under nuts” de Hakim Bougheraba (3/5)

With Ichem Bougheraba, Arriles Amrani…

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Because he is the double of a boss on the run, Sammy, a law student and pizza deliveryman, finds himself locked up in the thug’s place. In order to survive in jail, he assumes his new identity, until the day reality catches up with him. Given that the story is thought up and embodied by the gang of “Segpa” and “Segpa au ski” (more than 2 million entries), “Under nuts” is ready for laughter. Really. The humor and despondency of the Bougheraba-Amrani tandem (the first plays the double role brilliantly, the second plays the friend of fortune – or rather of misfortune) are undeniable and it would be a shame to miss it on the pretext that this action comedy from the harbor of Marseille does not correspond, not at all, to the Parisian intelligentsia. And the mere presence of Redouane Bougheraba, brother of the director and the main actor, in the role of a lawyer who is the polar opposite of the tenor of the bar, is worth the detour. Christophe Carrière

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« Sarah Bernhardt, la divine » de Guillaume Nicloux (4/5)

With Sandrine Kiberlain, Laurent Lafitte…

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Whatever genre he tackles (the thriller with “The Octopus”, the fantastic with “The Tower”, the comedy with “In the Skin of Blanche Houellebecq”), director Guillaume Nicloux has no equal for twist his neck and film off the beaten track. Here, the biopic, where it is not a question of recounting the life of Sarah Bernhardt in detail, but of highlighting the woman she was through the wife, the mother and the artist, each in advance on his time. And all it takes is an opening sequence (which we won’t describe here to leave the surprise) for Sandrine Kiberlain to win, establishing herself once again as one of the best current French actresses – and once again, she will not have stolen her probable and legitimate next nomination for the César. C.C

“The Beautiful Role” by Victor Rodenbach (3/5)

With William Lebghil, Vimala Pons, Jérémie Laheurte

To make a successful romantic comedy, you must first find an ideal cinema couple. And the one formed by William Lebghil and Vimala Pons is obvious as their gentle madness creates an obvious alchemy on the screen. As soon as they are together on stage, “Le Beau role” sparks, each feeding the other with their natural humor. We almost regret that Victor Rodenbach’s clever script follows the clear line of the genre, separating the two lovers before the final reconciliation. But the little music of the film works, and without seeming to touch it, Victor Rodenbach asks a universal question: how to continue to love yourself after a professional breakup? Yannick Vely

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