The Taste of Others

Opposites attract and relationships crumble in this suburban, rather serene French comedy written by real-life marrieds Jean-Pierre Bacri and Agnes Jaoui. An affluent, disconnected couple seems headed for divorce. She (Christiane Millet) is a neurotic who cares more for her dog than people. He (Bacri) is a crass industrialist who throws himself into the arts after becoming infatuated with a theater actress (Anne Alvaro) and hiring her as his English tutor. Other players in this game of cultural bumper cars include the industrialist’s chauffeur and a bodyguard who consecutively date a bar waitress (Agnes Jaoui). Jaoui’s fresh, casually observant directorial debut was nominated for an Oscar as Best Foreign Language Film.