A film about people's lives! It is people: with their fates, losses, hopes, instability, desire for happiness and thirst for life to its end! This is true for everyone, even though the film is purely French. The naturalness of the transmitted life (although it is certainly a great film art!) is emphasized by the unusually subtle play of actors who play so organically that sometimes it seems that this is not a game at all. Naturality is generally felt in the style of this film, ranging from a beautiful performance of one of the main roles by a child - to participation in the film of various animals (a dog in the window at the beginning of the film, French white cows on the road, playing a dog in the clearing, wonderful rabbits, cackling chickens and crowing of a rooster at the end of the film during the credits).
You get extraordinary pleasure when you notice the nuances, listen to the music sounding in the film, carefully look at the environment transmitted in the film, against which the story of the main character unfolds. The film conveys the atmosphere of simple France and ordinary French. The strength of this film is not in the plot and not in any bright events, but in the episodes thoroughly worked out by the director and played by the actors (sometimes it even seems that they are not actors at all, but ordinary people). I also want to mention the amazing sunshine of this film. It is emphasized primarily by the beautiful Catherine Deneuve, her golden hair, light-colored clothing, yellow or greenish-yellow fields, the sparkling surface of lakes and picturesque mountains, and the unusually sunny light of France and even yellow credits for the film.
Well, such a simple story about the most ordinary French woman of age, but it is very interesting to watch. It is understandable how many American films I have watched, but British, Swedish, Australian, Asian films can only be made by the French. And every other film with such a great mood. It seems they can do it, and even with some ease they create it.
Chic Deneuve in the title role, beautiful views of France. Nemo Shiffman showed himself very clearly. It's future talent. He's ten years old now, but such a game, such an expression! I'm just waiting to grow up.
There is little to say about the plot: an older woman, she has a lot of problems, and she just goes, not somewhere specific, but rather from problems. The story is still fascinating and, of course, entertaining, because everywhere there are grains of purely French humor.
Sometimes there can be so many failures in a person’s life that life seems to lose all meaning. They criticize you, they demand something from you. It seems that everyone is excited around you. At such moments, you just want to run away somewhere, where no one will remind you of failure. This is exactly what the main character does, who unexpectedly heals herself on her unusual journey.
Synopsis Betty's not having the best of times. She has to pay her debts so she doesn't lose her little restaurant. Her lover traded her for some young girl. At home, she's bullied by her mother. Betty manages to find peace of mind while smoking cigarettes. One day, when problems fall on her as a whole bunch, and cigarettes run out, Betty gets into the car and goes on a long journey that will change her life.
Game of actors In general, the actors performed their roles perfectly, but I can only single out Catherine Deneuve and Nemo Schiffman. Deneuve played the role of unhappy Betty, who, overwhelmed by overflowing failures, meeting new people and old friends, is gradually healed from mental anguish. I really liked the play of Nemo Shiffman, who became a central comedy character, whose appearance helped Betty even more.
Directorship Defining the genre of the film, I would call “Behind Cigarettes” tragicomedy, because in the first half of the film still dominated by drama. The main character at first constantly walks in a depressed state. Such a drama proceeds until the moment when the heroine takes the grandson to take him to his paternal grandfather. Although the grandson has his own cockroaches in his head, nevertheless, his role only added to the laughing stock. In general, since the film is directed by a woman, the focus is on the woman, her fate, when she is so depressed by the problems surrounding her.
Scenario In terms of plot, the film is a classic road movie, but only French. The main character, as mentioned earlier, is experiencing not the best times and one day just decides to leave the city. She is extremely depressed and wants to fix her life. She is helped in this by casual acquaintances, the first of whom is a lonely old man who becomes, perhaps, for her something like a symbol of her possible future life. I already said that Betty's lover traded her for a young one, and then the heroine finds healing in the company of a young friend from the bar. Finally, Betty finds final healing in the family, most notably in the person of her grandson Charlie. At first glance, the plot may seem simple and unremarkable. But if you look closely, you can see a deep, I would say secret meaning. The main character decided that the whole world turned against her, but simple strangers who showed her sincere kindness only helped her realize that life flows on.
Result No matter how “Cigarettes” sounds to me, it’s not a bad movie. Of course, this is not a movie for everyone, but despite everything, the film is still interesting to watch, because it is very vital, sincere and without unnecessary falsehood. I would personally recommend this movie.
The fact that life goes on after forty is most filmed by the French. The fact that there is life after sixty now begin to shoot, too. Who would you think? They're born! “For Cigarettes” is a beautiful manifesto of timeless female beauty, as the embodiment of the eternally young French cinema, where it is normal to travel half the country simply in search of a pack of cigarettes. There’s a certain romance in it – to get out of work one day, avoiding the routine and constant tutoring of an old mother and talking about how you missed the last man in life, get in your car and go where your eyes look, without any special appointment. Meet a lot of new people along the way, listen to different stories, drink, dance, look at the fields and finally smoke a cigarette.
Cigarettes are just an excuse, if the real reason for all this road adventure is the length of the movie. The reason to make a time out and reflect on what is happening in your life. Of course, like all the heroines of such films, Deneuve is confused and touching in her own way in her loneliness: she has insurmountable disagreements with her daughter, there is no beloved man, there is no one to care for, and moreover, you need to take care of your mother, who unconditionally loves her, but also does not let you step. She is now a grown-up girl.
“Behind Cigarettes” is a good festival road movie with a very life-affirming component, which you always expect from such a movie. A lot of fun moments, a good script, certainly talented acting, rich action. But the main thing is a warm and heartfelt cinema, summer, sunny, gives mood and awakens the spirit of adventure that has fallen asleep during the winter.
9 out of 10
Behind Cigarettes is a French, soulful movie with a taste of comedy and drama in 2013, directed and screenwriter Emmanuel Bercot. The film was original and with a drop of freshness of freedom. The picture looks at ease, gradually immersing the viewer in its road history. The main role is played by Catherine Deneuve, so the film attracts everyone’s attention. I saw this movie yesterday and I liked it. It has some alternative, a choice, hope, freedom, a feeling that everything will be fine.
We see the main character of this story Betty. At one point, she fell into a difficult emotional situation. Her married lover left his wife, but not to her, but to a young girl. The heroine's restaurant is on the verge of bankruptcy. At the same time, the elderly mother does not give freedom of personal life. Betty spontaneously gets into the car and drives for cigarettes, unaware that her journey will take a few days, and she will travel almost all of France and find something that may sound like it will turn and complement her life.
During filming, Catherine Deneuve was 70 years old! It's hard to believe. She is an amazing, French actress who was created to play in cinema. Deneuve has delighted us for many decades with his different roles, and I love watching movies with her. She plays clean and always believes her game, so watching Madame Deneuve play is a pleasure. In this soulful film, there are unexpected scenes with the charming Catherine, and at her age, she will be able to cover the mouth of any young girl. Amazing actress and woman! As the grandson of her character, I remember Nemo Schiffman well. This young, French actor played pretty well, and the grandparents' duet was great. “Elle s’en va” is a movie about the desire to be happy, about rethinking values and the thirst for alternatives.
Catherine Deneuve dressed, this time, in the role of the hapless manager of the restaurant, also experiencing failures on the love front. French comedy Emmanuel Bercot “Elle s’en va” (“She follows them”) in Russia renamed “For cigarettes”, apparently considering the French name somewhat abstract and blurred.
The heroine Betty (Katrina Deneuve), succumbing to the emotions that overwhelmed her, sits in her shabby Mercedes, and in the most confused feelings she goes where her eyes look. Forgetting to bring an extra pack of cigarettes. Learning about his mistake, the heroine has nothing to do, how to go in search of a traditional method of dealing with stress in the nearest backwaters of France.
And then the plot is clearly, although hardly intentional, but still begins to resemble the film by Philip Lliouche “The Unexpected Prince”, which appeared on the screens in April of this year. Only if there, in the main role, Vincent Perez shone, then there is no less eminent Catherine Deneuve herself. Both heroes will have their cars to overcome the way, having traveled half of France, but if Perez popularized the progressive views of France, spinning the ram of the “electric car”, Catherine Deneuve stands for the luxury brand – class (just not a couple of electric cars). Both heroes will face family troubles that have long been out of sight. And if Perez restored his relationship with his daughter exactly a few days before her wedding, then Deneuve will get to know his growing grandson, who has already forgotten what his grandmother looks like. And all in order to at the end of the film to realize the simple truth – in the world there is nothing more expensive than family.
What else brings these films together? Definitely landscapes. Provence. Small villages. A country house with a flowering garden, under one of the shady trees of which there is a family dinner of our heroes, endless fields flooded with sunlight. That's where she is, France.
Catherine Deneuve finds herself in comic situations, easily comes out of them, using her main weapon, no, not charm, but self-irony. The film does not ridicule, but causes laughter, a smile, and Catherine Deneuve, as a true embodiment of femininity, knows how to laugh at herself, and at the same time be sure to leave behind a trail of sophistication and charm. Proud and independent, even when she plays such a lost, but still cheerful heroine.
The film exudes an unusually attractive aroma of real French cinema. The simple idea laid down in the basis of the film, in unison expressed by both the older and younger generations, that life continues, continues thanks to the love of loved ones and relatives, even if it does not put the film in the category of a cinema of masterpieces, but informs the film the tone of a family movie created with the mark: "for the soul."
Film for women (in the cinema after half an hour of viewing from the middle of the hall heard male snoring).
The main character is Betty (Kathrin Deneuve). Her character is a woman living an ordinary life, but after learning about the betrayal of a longtime lover and going for cigarettes, she lives completely different, new moments of her life.
Catherine is a beautiful actress! And this is no exception. Nervousness of the heroine, insecurity, vulnerability, tears, desire to help, excitement, sincerity - believe everything. And you understand why on the way people do not push her away, help, respond.
I remember the words of the grandson that the grandmother is beautiful because she has a light inside, a highlight. And everyone is drawn to her: a grandson who did not know her before, a hysterical daughter, women in a bar, a 30-year-old man in a bar (!), a shopkeeper, a grandfather with a screwdriver did not let him leave, his grandson’s grandfather. The fire warms those around you. It's not easy for her, though.
Heroine (like Catherine) is about 70. And she is attractive, everything is just as beautiful, feminine and magnificent!
7 out of 10.
Cigarettes. Bad habit. It would seem... Just a banal desire to smoke was the most important impetus for Betty to make a decision to move. Go away. Disappear, evaporate and never come back. A new French film starring Catherine Deneuve is made with love. Of course.
Filmed by a woman. For a woman. The talented successor of Robert Ossein, Emmanuel Berkot, touches on a topic too sensitive, for many not too pleasant, but from which one cannot escape. Age. What can a woman who is over 60 afford?
Turns out a lot. Or almost everything. Quit the business that controls your mother, your life, your warm place. Goose... Sleep with a young man, while being aware of what he did. Look back and remember that you are a grandmother. And you have a grandson. A capricious boy who gives you a shake-up you'll remember for a lifetime. Children. Children. How difficult it is to find a common language with them. It's worth it. You just have to try. Because nothing matters anymore. The institution of family relations – how a collapsed system in a world of indifference can survive. At least in French cinema. Betty is picking up pieces of a long broken cup. I did. Glued it. It worked.
Everyone should. We are so weak and don’t want to change anything. Beautiful, subtle, emotional movie. Catherine Deneuve... The decoration of any movie. There are two things I've noticed. In the scene where Betty's room is shown, there's a picture on the wall. Black white image of a very young Deneuve with a baby. Catherine's mom. She's happy.
This is definitely a symbolism for the actress herself skillfully inserted by an experienced director. Once again, Catherine appears in a group photo as a former beauty queen. "Day or Perfection." Roger Vadim wrote: I imagine a courtroom. The President opens the meeting: “My beloved, please stand up!” The judge peers at a young beautiful blonde, dressed in a modest suit, undoubtedly the work of a great master. Her shiny bronze-colored eyes, with a slight ebb of gold, turn green in moments.
Emmanuel Bercot, probably like most Frenchmen, adores Catherine Deneuve - and even a little idolizes. This circumstance forced Berko (she herself, by the way, is also an actress) to write the script of her new film specifically for Deneuve. She is already 70, but in the film she plays a lady in her 60s. Whose life is "continuing." What screams all the fabulous basis of this picture. When you’re 60, life isn’t over, it goes on. This is the main theme of this very positive film.
Betty's life is still full of serious passions. She is abandoned by a lover with whom she dated for many years, for the sake of a 25-year-old “face”. This circumstance, and even fatigue from her restaurant, where things are not going too well, and in the kitchen everyone is annoying, because everyone does not do so, and the older mother sits and supervises at work - like a mentor, make Betty one day shed her apron - and go "for cigarettes." The fact that it is difficult to get cigarettes in France becomes clear very soon, when she is told that in this town you can not buy them, but in 50 kilometers along the road there will be a bar, there they may be. In general, Betty from his native Brittany drives halfway through France in his old beige Mercedes. At the same time, she gets into both funny and not too funny stories. Plus, he takes his grandson, whom he barely knows, quarrels with him, finds a common language, attends a meeting of beauties “Miss France 69”, swears with his daughter, or rather, she constantly attacks her for indifference to her fate, and finds love. Well, what else?
I would like to note a special comic find Bercot - 30-year-old "don Juan" Marco is from a provincial bar, waiting at the table for old mamsels. This character is, of course, homerically funny. But a person has found himself, and is having fun “with old women” with obvious pleasure.
Beyond the comic scenes, there is an inevitable age-related sentimentality in the picture. She is in the shaking hands of an old man who twists a cigar for Betty and tells his story - his fiancée died of tuberculosis in his early youth, and he never married because he promised her, "How else?" The same sadness then appears in the life of Betty herself, which also lacked tragedy. Although the death of her husband she suffers less than the death of her lover. And this is a certain complexity of the female character, written by Berko.
With the role of the magnificent Catherine Deneuve, about which books have long been written (not only in France, but also in Russia), of course, lucky. Now she has several more nominations for “best role” and even one well-deserved festival award. She plays, indeed, incomparably - touching, funny, defenseless and at the same time very strong and wayward woman who has lived a difficult life that is far from over. Oh, no, she still has many reasons for joy and bright sadness ahead of her.
7 out of 10
Don't call the parish tomorrow. You don't know what he'll bring.
Is it easy to change your life? Catherine Deneuve proved it. It is enough to be disappointed in life, drive your favorite car and go for cigarettes.
“Behind Cigarettes” is a movie that establishes that it’s never too late to start over. Failures cannot haunt a person constantly, sooner or later, the sun will come out from behind the clouds. Sometimes failure is the beginning of a happy journey. So Betty, learning that the next lover decided to break up with her, throws her eyes where they look to muffle the pain of disappointment. Betty’s character is a controversial person. She lives with her mother, does not communicate with her daughter and neglects her grandson. But, under the circumstances, she is forced to spend several days alone with a boy who returns her taste for life. Her grandson is the cause of Betty’s new passion.
I would like to say that the success and number of views of the film largely depends on the title. "Behind cigarettes" - this is the right slogan. It is intriguing, makes you think about the content of the whole film. It’s not a standard name for a drama that can mean anything. One title can already arouse the interest of the viewer and “force” to watch the film.
The main role is Katrina Deneuve, a female wizard. This stunningly beautiful woman and incredibly talented actress is respected and admired. Looking at Betty’s frivolous coquette, you don’t even think about the age of the actress or her heroine. This is what it means: talent has no gender and age, it is either there or it is not.
After watching " Behind Cigarettes", there is a sense of inspiration and inspiration. Life is unpredictable, there is no script. No one knows when he will be happy, maybe you just need to do more like Betty, go out to get cigarettes.
9 out of 10
That's a great movie! My expectations were met 100%. The plot is unpredictable: broken by trauma, a woman spontaneously goes for cigarettes. Anything can happen to her. Betty's peculiar fatalism does not let her down. She is a beautiful, mature woman, able to help, but at the same time trusting. On her way there is a lonely old man who keeps all his life faithful to his deceased bride, a young man who appreciated the beauty of Betty, and a kind security guard from the store who let her sleep. These meetings bring Betty back faith in herself and faith in men.
Loved the acting. Betty’s grandson believes that his life is not easy. The actor who played his grandfather very truthfully portrayed the transformation from a dry, stale bachelor into a man in love.
But the gem of this film is of course Catherine Deneuve! She cried and I cried with her. This actress looks amazing! I especially remember the scene in the hospital. Betty is shown from the back of her head, and you see the young woman's face. I think it's all about the sparkle that her grandson was talking about. You can be beautiful. Or you can grow old beautifully, and keep this warmth, femininity, charm.
P.S. Sometimes it’s helpful to drop everything and go on the road to find yourself. Isn't it?!
Absolutely implausible for Russia – and so it is normal for the West.
A woman in her 60s runs a restaurant with her mother, and they both look good and are full of vitality. Also, despite her age, the main character continues to live and personal life: sad because of the betrayal of her lover, drives a car, drinks in a bar and wakes up in the morning with a barely familiar smuggler. In short, Betty's life doesn't stand still. Catherine Deneuve's game is brilliant. It makes believe even the Russian viewer, who is used to seeing women over 60 who have already left the hustle and bustle and sat down at the TV with grandchildren, friends and knitting.
Betty and her grandchildren are in trouble. The relationship with the daughter is very tense, as well as with the mother. “When in this family someone will love someone!” sighs her grandson (quote not verbatim). The family storyline, along with the love storyline, is one of the main themes of the film “For Cigarettes”.
This picture can be seen at any age. It is impossible to break away from it without looking to the end. Even subtitles are not a significant disadvantage. All actors faithfully played their roles: both children and adults. The film is full of sincere feelings and some kind of bright, good hope.
Betty went for cigarettes and found the meaning of life. It's a little late at 60, isn't it? Not at all. Because life goes on.
Catherine Deneuve, like wine, only gets better over the years. You never get tired of admiring her beauty, talent and sensuality. Watching the adventures of the sixty-year-old heroine, you begin to catch yourself thinking that you, in your twenties, are unlikely to decide on such an act. Just take and leave everything to find yourself. Romantic and exciting.
Some dialogues deserve special attention, despite the fact that they do not play a major role in the film. For example, the story of an old farmer about a friend who died very young from tuberculosis. The bitter irony of this moment is that during his narration he makes a self-drive for Betty. Another example is the story of Betty's husband, who died choking on a chicken bone. It would seem that stupidity is unimaginable, and if we read this in the book, we would not believe it, but this is life and here we already have to take even such mockingly funny antics of fate.
The life-affirming slogan (see the title of the review), which the characters of the film repeat several times, sounds more than convincing at the end. Betty, who has found her old prince, finds harmony and inspires hope for a bright future.
Behind Cigarettes is a story built on the inner freedom of people. Such a story is hard to imagine in Russia, so different from us Europeans living in the blessed south. There, a woman in her 60s with traces of the former - but amazing - beauty comes out of the kitchen of her old restaurant directly onto a sunny street, sits in an ancient car and leaves for the whole day to look for a pack of cigarettes.
There, an old farmer invites a stranger into the house, tells the story of his love, makes a rollercoaster with trembling hands. A group of teenage girls with a simple and appropriate response explain that you have to go 40 kilometers to a roadside bar to buy cigarettes because there are no cigarettes on Sunday in their town. A 30-year-old man without looking back and in five minutes falls in love with a lady who is fit for his mother, and cares for her reverently. The security guard of the furniture store invites a wet woman inside and puts her to sleep on a large exhibition bed.
Nothing bothers anyone there. European cinema, fully reflecting the local mentality, shows the whole life as it is: there can be pigmented spots on the skin, people can have imperfect figures and wrinkles, pensioners can live to the fullest, dress up, cry, regret lovers, have sex, reject their children, accept their children, live for them and live for themselves.
No cliches, no clichés: all their lives they do is live. Grandma, mother, daughter, grandson, careless husband, deceased lover, described property, mayoral election, pub gathering, burned-out barbecue, half-drunken songs at a friendly table - all this is normal, because it's their life, because it's now, and it folds in this way.
After this movie, I wanted to drive and go where my eyes look. So contagious was the [bad] inspirational example of Catherine Deneuve in this film. This means that the director managed to convey the main idea of the picture: escape is sometimes the best way out of a difficult life situation, because while you are running, you can find something very important.
Recently, films, where the main characters are older and older people, appear more and more. Remember the Oscar-winning “Love”, cute “Spring Hopes” and quite recent “Gloria”. All these films from different angles illuminate the life that few people dream about and seriously think about - life in the gradient of years. And the trend itself aims to clearly demonstrate that gray hair is not a reason to put an end to life, because the most amazing events can await ahead. “Behind Cigarettes” is a great continuation of the film tradition. This is a film of hope, which with its atmosphere, music, dialogue and laughter provides a wonderful mood and remains in the memory for a long time.
Catherine Deneuve as Betty is amazingly good. The main character of the film, although she looks like a solid lady, is fragile in her soul and in something childishly naive. Deneuve conveys this combination of life experience with childlike simplicity very convincingly. Other actors do not lag behind the legend of French cinema - what only the young Nemo Schiffman and the singer Camille are worth.
For me, all films are divided into 3 categories: bad; good, but do not want to review; good, I will review with pleasure. “For cigarettes” I put in the third, most honorable category:
8 out of 10