Top flight French film BBC2 tonight 18.4.15 (for Spiral watchers...)

[Nick Armstrong]

In the early hours tonight on BBC2 (1.55am - 3.45am - one for the PVR) is this film

"Le père de mes enfants" ("The Father of my Children")

The male lead is taken by guy who played the mesmeric Maître Eric Edelman, Joséphine Karlsson's nemesis in Season 5 of Spiral - he of the splendidly baroque name:

Louis-Do de Lencquesaing

Not seen it but generally well-rated, though a tough watch apparently - and I'm keen to see that actor in something else

(e.g. THIS REVIEW CONTAINS A MAJOR PLOT SPOILER http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010...hildren-review)

[DracoM]

Will we be able to catch it on iPlayer?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Will we be able to catch it on iPlayer?

Almost certainly not - the last time Cali flagged up a film (the paraplegic richman and his black driver) it wasn't available. I discovered this the hard way!

[Honoured Guest]

Will we be able to catch it on iPlayer?

Yes. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018ws8q

[Nick Armstrong]

Almost certainly not - the last time Cali flagged up a film (the paraplegic richman and his black driver) it wasn't available. I discovered this the hard way!

The logic of which films are and which aren't available on iPlayer eludes me. All to do with rights agreements I suppose.

Sorry ferns

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The logic of which films are and which aren't available on iPlayer eludes me. All to do with rights agreements I suppose.

Sorry ferns

Not your fault, Cali. I think that the other film was shown on BBC4 so that might have something to do with it????

[Nick Armstrong]

Not your fault, Cali. I think that the other film was shown on BBC4 so that might have something to do with it????

[Nick Armstrong]

Will we be able to catch it on iPlayer?

Almost certainly not

Si, c'est bon

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b018ws8q/the-father-of-my-children

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Si, c'est bon

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...of-my-children

But notice - available only for a week, not a month.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

But notice - available only for a week, not a month.

Unmissable! I didn't find it at all a "tough watch", and I'm glad that I read the Grauniad review after watching the film. Magnificent - touching throughout, frequently funny, and with a genuinely shocking turn of events that took my breath away. Many thanks to Cali for highlighting this film which I would have overlooked otherwise.

[Nick Armstrong]

Unmissable! I didn't find it at all a "tough watch", and I'm glad that I read the Grauniad review after watching the film. Magnificent - touching throughout, frequently funny, and with a genuinely shocking turn of events that took my breath away. Many thanks to Cali for highlighting this film which I would have overlooked otherwise.

Great! Haven't seen it myself yet! (Bar the first 5 minutes - looked fascinating and beautifully done). Old Louis-Do is a fine actor, isn't he! A real creative artist too, if you look him up. Classy cove.

[Nick Armstrong]

Interesting interview with him here, alongside his daughter, about his first feature film (in which they both acted).

I liked what he said about simplicity in performance/direction. Not without significance for musical performance...

[Stanley Stewart]

This subtle and intensely enjoyable film stirred many memories for me. I note that The Father of my Children was made in 2009. A year later, a friend phoned enquiring whether I'd seen it and I replied in the negative but kept an eye open for its release at our City Screen, alas to no avail. Discussing the film at the time, I was also asked whether I recalled the title of a play, starring Celia Johnson & Anthony Quayle at Wyndham's Theatre in the autumn of 1960 (sic) as the film captured the same mood and consequences of abandoned relationships. I quickly identified the play as Chin-Chin by Francois Billetdoux, adapted by Willis Hall, and you do not easily forget the haunted quality which Ms Johnson could bring to these roles. The film also pertinent to me as i spent 20 years in documentary films at the COI, after 15 years in front of a camera in bread and butter roles.! The daily hubub of life in Paris and the underlying tension of creativity always prevalent at North Lambeth, too. . I was fascinated to see how close, tight shots and a sense of pace quickly identified the character and individuality of each family member. Relaxation reserved for the wider shots of their country residence. The piece de resistance was, indeed, shattering - no further comment as it would be a shameless spoiler.

This day, I've transferred the film from hard drive to DVD, making an attractive double-bill with Un Coeur en Hiver (1991); another quite exquisite feature about changing relationships which I'd be happy to discuss at another time!

[Nick Armstrong]

Lovely post, Stanley S - many thanks!

[Dave2002]

Unmissable! I didn't find it at all a "tough watch", and I'm glad that I read the Grauniad review after watching the film. Magnificent - touching throughout, frequently funny, and with a genuinely shocking turn of events that took my breath away. Many thanks to Cali for highlighting this film which I would have overlooked otherwise.

I wouldn't say unmissable, but it's definitely not an American or British type of film. Some might be tempted to give up early, perhaps after the first ten minutes or so, during which the main character demonstrates some appalling driving - telephone, cigarettes, hands off the wheel etc. Definitely not a good example of how to drive a car. Later on the film gets more point, but like others I'll leave it there. Thought provoking, perhaps.