Perfumes the movie is a delightfully charming French drama/comedy which pits a socially oblivious perfume expert against her outspoken driver. The outcome, a charming insight into what we can teach each other.
Anne Walberg (Emmanuelle Devos) is what they call “a nose” or she was until she fell from grace.
For years she was the most sought after consultant in the industry, the nose that created many a well known perfume. But when her sense of smell failed her on one occasion she was exiled from the perfume community.
Even though it returned her reputation was ruined, and so she was left to work on projects outside her beloved industry. While her position of power was lost her difficult, deva attitude remained.
Meanwhile (Gregory Montel) was working as a driver, hoping to save up enough money to rent a one bedroom flat that would mean his young daughter could stay over on weekends. Trouble is he’d started racking up demerit points and was in danger of losing his job for good.
Facing unemployment he is given the “opportunity” to drive Walberg. The demanding woman sees his simple driving task morph into carrying her bags upstairs and changing bed sheets. With no other employment opportunities in sight he must carry our her wishes.
As the two strike up an unlikely friendship, Anne sees a way to return to the top, which might offer a solution to both their problems.
As I left the theatre on a cold night but a warm heart, I pondered:
- Both actors are a delight in their respective roles making their characters highly believable;
- There is a delightful restaurant scene where Walberg is taught a lesson in empathy. A simple test to describe the waiter which could be useful in a lot of situations today, when social interaction is replaced by a mobile phone screen;
- If you’re missing travelling the French scenery may help too, or not.
For more information go to Luna Cinemas
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