Gabriel Aghion Movies
- 2006
Abandoned by the world and left to fend for himself as the Nazis continue their march across Europe, one-time bohemian turned Catholic convert Max Jacob finds help coming from the most unlikely of places as he awaits the train that will take him to a Concentration camp. The year is 1944, and as the Gestapo storm the abbey of Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire to arrest the Max Jacob (Jean-Claude Brialy), it appears as if the homosexual Jew who had previously rubbed elbows with Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau during the Bateau-Lavoir years will now become just another victim of Hitler's murderous regime. Later, as Jacob sits in Drancy awaiting deportation, a young orphan whom he had once saved from the streets sets out to return the favor by any means necessary. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean-Claude Brialy, Dominique Blanc, (more)
- 2001
The wildly popular British television show Absolutely Fabulous gets a Francophonic makeover with this film version directed by Gabriel Aghion. In this go around, Josiane Balasko and Nathalie Baye play the incorrigible Eddie and Patsy, who leave no impulse unenacted and no lust unsated -- be it for sex or the latest in designer clothing. Waking up from a night of drunken debauchery, the two dip right into a feast of champagne and caviar, much to the irritation of Eddie's elegant mother and her resentful daughter. As Eddie stretches an appalling pair of leopard-print leotards (complete with matching shoes, purse, and hat) over her massive rear end, she and Patsy learn of a handsome young Rollerblading delivery boy who quickly becomes the object of their lust. This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Starring:
- Josiane Balasko, Nathalie Baye, (more)
- 2000
Gabriel Aghion directs this bawdy period romp about a day in the life of 18th century philosopher and sensualist Denis Diderot (Vincent Perez), who produced the first ever encyclopedia while living a life of delicious decadence. Though the Church immediately banned Diderot's opus, which they deemed to be a compendium of forbidden knowledge, copies continued to circulate. Diderot, along with his wife (Francoise Lepine) and daughter, are staying in the country estate of the Baron and Baroness d'Holbach -- who put a pair of illegal printing presses and a legion of typesetters in a chamber beneath the family altar. At the same time that the Church sends a grumpy Cardinal (Michel Serrault) to ferret out the clandestine press, comely Madame Therbouche (Fanny Ardant) shows up to paint Diderot's portrait. While Diderot occupies himself with his artist friend, the Baroness keeps the Cardinal occupied with her laundry list of sordid confessions. Naughty fun soon ensues. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Starring:
- Fanny Ardant, Josiane Balasko, (more)
- 1999
Who is the worst person you could fall in love with, and what would be the worst moment to fall for them? One possible scenario is presented in the comedy of errors Belle Maman. Antoine (Vincent Lindon) has decided to make an honest woman of his girlfriend, pregnant Severine (Mathilde Seigner), but during the ceremony he sees a beautiful woman and falls instantly in love. The woman in question happens to be Severine's mother, Lea (Catherine Deneuve, and how can you really blame a guy for being infatuated with her? ). Lea seems to be more than a bit interested in Antoine as well, but she already has a boyfriend, Gregoire (Idris Elba), a native of the Caribbean island Lea now calls home. This potentially messy situation just gets sloppier when they all travel to the Bahamas together to celebrate the 70th birthday of Lea's mother, Nicou (Line Renaud), a tart-tongued lesbian with a taste for cigars. Though not especially well received, Belle Maman was a box office success in France, doubtless due to a sharp comic performance by Vincent Lindon and the presence of the always beautiful Catherine Deneuve. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Catherine Deneuve, Vincent Lindon, (more)
- 1996
A closeted gay man's attempts to "act straight" for the sake of his job have unexpected consequences in this French comedy. Adrien (Patrick Timsit) is a businessman who is trying to close a major deal with Alexandre (Richard Berry), a powerful banker. Alexandre invites Adrien to attend an upcoming dinner party at his estate; Adrien doesn't want to scotch the deal by saying no, but he would also prefer that macho Alexandre not know that he's gay, a secret he's kept from most of his business associates. Adrien persuades his friend Eva (Fanny Ardant), the proprietor of a popular gay nightspot, to pose as his date for the evening, and her no-nonsense attitude and broad humor score a big hit with Alexandre, who becomes infatuated with her. On the sly from his wife Marie (Michele Laroque), Alexandre begins calling on Eva at her restaurant; Alexandre is a bit puzzled by her clientele, while Eva begins to wonder if he might be gay. Fanny Ardant's performance won her a Cesar Award (the French Oscar) as Best Actress of 1996. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Patrick Timsit, Fanny Ardant, (more)
- 1984
In this French domestic comedy, a young boy lives in a Paris apartment surrounded by three generations of single women: his mother, her mother, and his great grandma, each with their own ideas on how a boy should be raised. Naturally this is quite confusing for the lad. Things get especially tense when he develops a crush on his teacher; and his mother is wooed by another man. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brigitte Fossey, Stéphane Audran, (more)
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