L'Appartement

Gilles Mimouni, 1997 (116 mins, Cert. 15)

When a man who is about to leave his fiancée for a business trip overhears his former lover in a telephone booth, he decides to stay in Paris and track her down. An original and cleverly structured comedy-drama which weaves a colourful, stylish plot through the pleasures and complications of love.
(Barbican publicity)

A delightfully entertaining study of how the lives and loves of a group of young Parisians are entangled. Clever use of flash-back gradually reveals the complex layers of their inter-relationships, complexities of which the characters themselves are (at least initially) unaware. The main characters are tremendously engaging, and it is a joy to spend time in their company. Overall, this is a very funny, and wonderfully stylish film. Two thumbs up!
(Steve Fagg)

Seen: Saturday, 17th January, 1998 (Barbican 1)