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Chinese Puzzle
- Director: Cédric Klapisch
- Writer: Cédric Klapisch
- Producer: Raphael Benoliel; Carol Cuddy
CGiii Comment
The third part of a trilogy that should have been discontinued after part 1. Well, let's hope it's a trilogy!
Klapisch's [inexplicable] affection for his characters has consistently failed to transfer onto the screen. None have a likeability factor.
What's more - a particular grievance - when you create a character who is a highly regarded writer...the inference is that the writer who created that character is a highly regarded writer...well, that might be the case if the writing was any good...not so here: rather clichéd and somewhat unoriginal.
Klapisch relies on gimmicks rather than talent...the philosophical characters are a nonsense...and then, he forgets all about the gimmicks - why include them in the first place?!?
Inconsistency is a problem.
The lesbian story comes and goes...
So, if you thrive on watching adults behave without rhyme or reason - then, this is the film for you.
Most definitely, not for us.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Xavier is now forty years old. So are Wendy, Isabelle and Martine. At forty you are supposed to be more mature and live a a steadier life than at twenty. But not Xavier. Well, to be fair, he has made some progress in the field of thoughtfulness (he has even become a writer) but as concerns his everyday life, it is far from well-ordered. To be totally honest it is not entirely Xavier's fault if his wife Wendy has suddenly left him for a new companion in New York and taken their two children with her. Realizing he can't stand living without them, Xavier decides to settle down in Big Apple in order to remain close to them. He finds a home in Chinatown and it does not take long before trouble comes his way.
Cast & Characters
Romain Duris as Xavier Rousseau;
Audrey Tautou as Martine;
Cecile De France as Isabelle;
Kelly Reilly as Wendy;
Sandrine Holt as Ju;
Flore Bonaventura as Isabelle de Groote - la babysitter;
Jochen Hagele as Hegel et Schopenhauer - les philosophes allemands;
Benoit Jacquot as Monsieur Rousseau - le pere de Xavier;
Pablo Mugnier-Jacob as Tom Rousseau;
Margaux Mansart as Mia Rousseau