In order to restore his damaged honour, he decides to leave her and track down her former lover, played by Thierry Lhermitte, so that he can punch him in the face. But at his age, things are not so simple.
A real pleasure of French cinema
After working together several times, and notably forming a couple in Tanguy by Étienne Chatiliez and in films by Alain Resnais, Sabine Azéma and André Dussollier once again play a couple, this time absurdly in crisis after half a century together.
The two actors are clearly enjoying performing together on screen, and their quarrels – sometimes absurd, sometimes justified – drive a comedy that is more serious than it first appears.
Behind the themes of infidelity and fidelity, the film explores the idea of growing old together as a couple, the weight of the years, frustrations and regrets. François’s military rigidity, somewhat caricatured but very much part of what gives the character his appeal, is undermined, and the burlesque situation of his departure ultimately pushes him to soften his view of the world by reconnecting with his children, whose life paths are very different from his own.
For Annie, the central issue is self-assertion and self-acceptance after spending most of her life in her husband’s shadow.
“N’avoue jamais” plays with questions of jealousy and misplaced ego by asking whether, after a certain time, there is simply a statute of limitations for storms of the heart. Funny and light, the film above all shows that there is no age limit for change. A sparkling comedy of manners to be enjoyed with great pleasure!
“N’avoue jamais”, a film by Ivan Calbérac with André Dussollier, Sabine Azéma and Thierry Lhermitte, is on Monday 7 September at 20:20 on RTBF La Une, and available on demand on RTBF Auvio.