A Cheerful Event (Not heureux evenement)

A Gaumont (in France) relieve a Mandarin Cinema, Gaumont, France 2 Cinema, Scope Pictures, RTBF production while using participation of Canal Plus, TPS Star, France Televisions as well as the support of Region Wallonne, L'Ango-Agicoa, Tax Shelter in the Belgian Government. (Worldwide sales: Entertianment One, Toronto.) Produced by Eric Altmayer, Nicolas Altmayer, Isabelle Grellat. Executive producers, Genevieve Lemal. Directed by Remi Bezancon. Script, Vanessa Portal, Bezancon, good novel by Eliette Abecassis.With: Louise Bourgoin, Pio Marmai, Josianne Balasko, Theirry Fremont, Gabrielle Lazure.A stylish, humorous and wonderfully specific "what you should expect when you're expecting" opus told using the techniques of populist French cinema, Remi Bezancon's "A Cheerful Event" should deliver healthy returns across Europe and French-speaking areas, but lacks the highbrow edge to draw a U.S. release. A great deal the pity, since Bezancon is always that rare French helmer whose abilities exceed people of several Hollywood comedy company company directors, but, the Stateside auds who might appreciate his inventive approach simply won't take subtitles. Arthouse crowds, in comparison, may have little persistence for your type of movie more consistent with megaplex tastes. Modified from French philosopher Eliette Abecassis' novel "Not heureux evenement," this stylish contempo drama addresses a subject so universal regarding appear mundane, monitoring an elegant couple's path from initial courtship for the strain that raising their first child puts around the relationship. But should be 1000 movies have examined motherhood before doesn't mean there is not fresh insight being acquired within the experience, as proven by current French box office sensation (and Oscar submission) "Commitment of War," this bears a satisfying resemblance. Bezancon, who so astutely chronicled pleasure and discomfort across 30 years from the French family in "Day One in the Relaxation from the Existence," sacrifices the richness of the experience somewhat by loss his focus to two lovebirds, Barbara (Louise Bourgoin) and Nicholas (Pio Marmai). She's a graduate student fighting to complete her thesis he works inside a videostore (creating any cute courtship through movie game game titles). They don't appear like the type of couple which will last, but, casting such desirable leads guarantees the passionate chemistry they believe for one another stretches for the audience too. More than ten years after company company directors for instance Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Jaco Van Dormael discovered another means methods to dynamically reinvigorate the form of slice-of-existence Euro comedy, "Event" signifies where these techniques have settled when found in an extremely less self-conscious way. In this context, there's nothing particularly jarring about cutting with a closeup in the couple's unborn fetus or using narration to shuttle over the pic's timeline. The newborn is Barbara's idea, though she's not necessarily considered how considerably its arrival can alter her existence. At first it brings the happy couple closer, simply because they share all people landmarks that await all parents: damaging the news with a disapproving mother, relocating for just about any sonogram, feeling the kid kick inside its mother's belly. Nevertheless the stress also took its toll, and "Event" candidly engages with aspects frequently overlooked within the film depiction of childbearing, for instance how they cope with the "hormonal hurricane" that leaves Barbara craving sex and resenting her b.f. By implementing a comedy tone throughout, Bezancon takes the benefit in the break-up that seems being pending coming, although delivering the kind of unique particulars that distinguish pic off their tales available. This spirit is taken in the beginning in the scene where Nicholas cuddles tabs on Barbara to check out "Star Trek," feeling as if the show's opening narration -- "to strongly go where no guy went before" -- talks right to him. Clearly, many males are actually lower this road, but "Event" handles to capture it through fresh eyes.Camera (color, widescreen), Antoine Monod editor, Sophie Reine music, Sinclair production designer, Maamar Ech-Cheikh costume designer, Marie-Laure Lasson, appear (Dolby Digital), Marc Engels supervisory appear editor, Olivier Walczak re-recording mixer, Emmanuel Crose assistant director, Paul-Henri Belin casting, Maya Serrula, Michael Bier. Examined at Toronto Film Festival (Special Presentations), Sept. 14, 2011. Running time: 109 MIN. Contact Peter Debruge at peter.debruge@variety.com