After the conventional period drama The Young Victoria, Jean-Marc Vallée returns to the more complex, decade-hopping M. O. of his breakthrough, C. R. A. Z. Y.. Using different versions of the title song as a through-line, Vallée flits between two stories, juxtaposing a mother (Vanessa Paradis) coping with a mentally challenged son in ’60s Paris with a DJ (Kevin Parent) finding new love while his ex-wife (Hélène Florent) struggles to come to terms with the break-up. Both stories are engaging as are the filmmaking styles — shallow focus for the contemporary, a softer, gauzier feel for the ’60s. Yet despite a plethora of strong scenes, how the two strands come together requires a leap of imagination many will find too far to make.
Cafe De Flore Review
![Cafe De Flore](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/empire-tmdb/films/85033/images/8Yfce48hRR5iwksmIcoRQevX6Ly.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
In present day Montreal successful DJ Antoine (Parent) is torn between his new girlfriend and the ex-wife for whom he still harbours feelings. Back 40 years and across the world in Paris are a young single mum (Paradis) and her Down syndrome son. But what links them?
Release Date:
11 May 2012
Running Time:
120 minutes
Certificate:
15
Original Title:
Cafe De Flore
Young Victoria director Vallée tackles something altogether more complex with equal flair, even if his two storylines never quite gel.
Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us