Review – Bright Days Ahead

Caroline (Fanny Ardant) is a retired dentist who decides to take up classes at the local retirement centre to keep herself busy. It is there that she begins an affair with the computer instructor, a man in his thirties, and finds a new lease on life. But Caroline is a careless adulterer, and she is soon found out by her husband. From there, in this coming-of-old-age film, she must then reconcile with her past and decide how she wants to live out her future.

Bright Days Ahead (Les beaux jours) makes for refreshingly understated cinema. It explores these themes of family, friendship, love and betrayal without trying to wring heightened drama from the material, instead opting for humour and introspection. This is complimented by Ardant’s performance, which is grounded and familiar. She gives us a character that isn’t drawn in thick dark lines, but rather possesses all the subtle nuances of a regular person. She is capable of embarrassment, quick to outrage, careless of other people’s feelings and guarded of her own. Not least, she is also a bit stupid, which is a rare and fine thing to see presented in a sympathetic light.

I liked this film. Clever pacing and a short run-time keep the frivolity entertaining and prevent the contemplative moments from overpowering the mix. This is a carefree and carefully constructed movie which hits all its notes without looking like it’s trying.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_bijH0hzQQ&rel=0&w=400]