Romantics Anonymous (Les Émotifs anonymes)

Dir: Jean-Pierre Améris

2010

****

The synopsis of Jean-Pierre Améris' romantic comedy Romantics Anonymous reads like a cross between Lasse Hallstrom's 2000 adaptation of Joanne Harris' Chocolat and Jean-Pierre Jeunet's whimsical romance Amelie. There are a few similarities; it is set in France, it features chocolate as a main theme and the leading character shares a similar quirk to that of Amelie. The similarities pretty much end there though, and I would say while it isn't quite as enjoyable as Amelie (I love Amelie), it knocks the socks off Chocolat every day of the week. Each week Angelique (played wonderfully by the brilliant Isabelle Carre) attends a Romantics Anonymous support group where people discuss their social anxiety disorders. For years she has kept her chocolate-making talents a secret but when she is forced to look for new employment, she is drawn to a suffering chocolate factory and soon falls for the manager who, as it turns out, has a far worse anxiety issue than she does. It is a beautiful idea that these people are seen as hyper-emotional (or romantic), rather than negatively abnormal, indeed, it is the sensitive characters in the film who end up looking the most normal by the end of the film. Benoit Poelvoorde is brilliant as Jean-Rene Van Den Hugde, the manager and owner of the Chocolate mill. His performance displays some of the best physical comedy I've seen in quite a while and his timing is impeccable. I couldn't quite believe it when I realised this was the same Benoit Poelvoorde who played Ben the serial killer from the cult classic Man Bites Dog. The chemistry between Carre and Poelvoorde is magical, you really do believe in their characters which only enhances the romance of the story. The story is beautifully written, not as predictable as you may expect either and it is shot beautifully with lots of rich colour and charming composition. It's something of a hidden gem, one that is well worth seeking out. It'll make you want to fall in love (all over again if applicable) and eat lots of chocolate, full of passion and charm, it is an absolute delight of a film.