French Twist: Movie, DVD Review (2009)

Written (in French, with English subtitles) and directed by Josiane Balasko, 100 minutes, rated R.

We’ve seen the set-up before--beautiful, lonely housewife allows into her home a strapping, masculine stranger in need of help. A conversation ensues which eventually leads to desire burning in the stranger’s eyes, perspiration shimmering on the unhappy housewife’s bosom, and the camera following the two down onto the kitchen floor, where the film then becomes an action movie.

If this were an American film, we’d assume the strapping stranger was a man. But this is a French comedy with a potent French twist: the stranger is not a man, but a tough-looking lesbian named Marijo (Josiane Balasko), who storms into housewife Loli’s life in a cloud of cigar smoke, an undeniable swagger, and a joie de vivre that proves infectious.

Loli (Victoria Abril) has been married for years to her cheating husband, Laurent (Alain Chabat), and is ripe for something new, but is she capable of handling anything like this?

“French Twist” explores that question with fun--if at times bizarre--results.

Grade: B