The Innocent

This film is proof that the romantic comedy genre doesn't always need to be insufferable Hollywood shite, if indeed The Innocent can even be classified as a rom-com. It's about a young bloke, his best friend, his mum and her new hubby. There's pathos, mild threat, humour and romance, all balanced and pitched just about right. 

Director and co-writer, Louis Garrel also stars as Abel, widower and perhaps the innocent of the title. His best friend (and also best friend of his late wife) is Clémence, played by a stellar Noémie Merlant, and while their relationship is a potential for juice, the story actually revolves around Abel's mum's new partner, and his status as an ex-con. Mum Sylvie (Anouk Grinberg) teaches theatre in prisons, where she has met and fallen in love with Michel (Roschdy Zem), and upon his release - they've said the vows in prison - they start a new life, and business together. Abel, meanwhile, doesn't trust Michel and therefore starts tailing him. Of course, things don't work out so well.

The laughs aren't played for guffaws, there's a milder tone to the whole film, but there are some standout moments, one in particular might just be the best set piece of the year so far. Garrel must have built the film around this one scene - a 'fake' couple's argument in a late night truck stop. It's a proper zinger, it really hits on the perfect blend of giggles and emotion. The stretchy premise is that Abel and Clémence need to distract a trucker to give Michel and his dodgy mate enough time to steal some gear from said dude's truck. The scene starts out silly, almost slapstick until things take a deeper turn and we are left to guess where the act ends and real feelings begin. Superbly played by all.

The film as a whole is not an epic in scale or substance but it is light, sweet and not entirely predictable, with Merlant as the stand-out, she's more than watchable in most things these days. The Innocent is a surprisingly pleasant example of this kind of film done in a raw sugar fashion, no artificial sweetener for this bunch.

The Innocent is playing now at Palace and Luna cinemas.

See also:

Merlant is excellent again in Céline Sciamma's Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019), and Zem is also in Fred Cavayé's fantastic Point Blank (2010).