Michael (Alec Baldwin) waves goodbye.
Jacque (Arnaud Viard) drives Anne (Diane Lane), who is holding a rose.
PARIS CAN WAIT
Film review by Marlene Ardoin
Eleanor Coppola, wife of renowned filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, had an experience, which caused her to write her own script, then to direct her own film, “Paris Can Wait,” which gives a voice to all middle-aged women, who suddenly feel invisible.
I loved this film. And in my opinion, she needs to keep going, even if she is 81 years old.
Eleanor Coppola has a successful marriage, successful children, and now, I feel that it is never too late to become a successful filmmaker/writer/director.
In her film, Diane Lane plays Anne, the wife of a successful movie producer, who decides to join her husband in Europe, while he is on location. She soon discovers that this may be a bad idea.
Alec Baldwin plays Michael, the movie producer husband, who, when he does get off the cell phone, is criticizing his third wheel wife for ordering two sandwiches. He shames her ruthlessly.
It seems that she does not know French well enough to communicate that she wanted cheese on her hamburger, hence the second cheese sandwich.
And to compound his error, her husband leaves her alone with his luggage, telling her to call the bellman. She tries using the phone, but, again the language barrier. She ends up becoming the bellman, instead.
By the time Anne makes it to the airport, she has a pounding earache. Her husband does not notice her distress, but his French business associate, Jacques (Arnaud Viard), does notice.
Jacque offers to drive Anne to Paris, rather than have her take the small plane to Budapest with her husband.
And to compound his error even further, her husband shows no signs of jealousy, concern or caring for her. He essentially throws her under the influence of a total male stranger.
Her husband, Michael, seems oblivious to the fact that she may be experiencing some distress, because her daughter is now no longer at home and her dress shop business has just closed.
She was hoping to connect with her husband, who is revealing that he is a total asshole.
Luckily, Jacques is a kind and generous soul, who is everything that her husband is not, except, maybe not as rich.
Jacques starts off by taking care of her earache.
And to compound that, he turns out to be a good travel mate. He is sensitive to her needs. He asks questions and shows interest in her. He is not stingy with food. He takes special care to see that she is served the finest of French food.
What is endearing about him, is that he agreed to drive her to Paris, even though the car that he owns, probably will not make it.
He stops every hour on the road, telling her that he needs to stretch his legs and have a cigarette. I’m not buying it. He is seeing that his engine is heating up, because the fan is about to go out.
It becomes apparent that these two are very compatible. They are comfortable in each other’s company. And, their level of emotional intimacy is reached at warp speed.
So, if you are married, divorced, or hoping to stay married, may I suggest going to see this film.
Interview with Eleanor Coppola and Arnaud Viard:
http://deadline.com/2016/09/eleanor-coppola-paris-can-wait-arnaud-viard-tiff-
A donation buys an email subscription to “Movies of the Spirit.”
6/14/17 # Paris Can Wait