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Anne is at a crossroads in her life. Long married to a successful, driven but inattentive movie producer, she unexpectedly finds herself taking a car trip from Cannes to Paris with a business associate of her husband. What should be a seven-hour drive turns into a carefree two-day adventure replete with diversions involving picturesque sights, fine food and wine, humor, wisdom and romance, reawakening Anne’s senses and giving her a new lust for life.
Sony Pictures Classics releases Eleanor Coppola’s feature film directorial and screenwriting debut. She is a newcomer at the age of 81. It stars Academy Award-nominee Diane Lane as a Hollywood producer’s wife who unexpectedly takes a long road trip through France, which reawakens her sense of self.
The nuances that Coppola weaves into the tapestry of her story bring a depth and richness to the screen that is refreshing and enchanting. Her audience is treated to lush vivid images of the French countryside including historical oddities rarely included in sightseeing tours. Anne has taken up photography as a hobby over the past few years of her life and takes every opportunity to capture images of the world as she sees it. The perspective of what she captures on her camera is unique and thoughtfully done.
Throughout the journey, Jacques continuously detours Anne’s efforts to drive straight to Paris. It becomes obvious almost from the beginning that he is not only in love with France and its gastronomical delights but also with the thought of being in love with Anne. First impressions of Jacques is absolutely that of the flirty romantic passionate Frenchman. I felt it could have been any beautiful, smart woman sitting next to Jacques and he would have started his efforts to win her over exactly as he did with Anne. That is, until he sees her photographs. A subtle, but tangible change washes over Jacques. His tenderness towards Anne grows even deeper when he accidentally tells her a story that reveals her husband’s indiscretion.
It is important to give fair warning, if you are at all repulsed or offended by a story told with the use of exquisite food and wine, this is not the movie to attend. Throughout the telling of how two people find deeper meaning in their lives and in each other, Coppola uses food to mirror the mood and experiences of the journey. It is also used to show discomfort and awkwardness when an old lover of Jacques joins him and Anne for lunch.
As a foodie at heart, I found myself gasping at the lushness and extravagant meals Jacques entertains Anne with. Important to note, however, is the use of food in its simplest forms to bring out the genuine feeling of tenderness and caring at an impromptu picnic by the water. Sony Pictures went even so far as to include many of the recipes used in the film on the official movie website: http://sonyclassics.com/pariscanwait/
Not every film made will capture a wide audience. “Paris Can Wait” will, unfortunately, charm a very small demographic. Eleanor Coppola’s story of self-discovery by stopping to smell the roses is most definitely for the romantic. An undemanding classic unfolding of what shapes a life and the choices we make.
In select theaters Friday, May 26th
