Previously posted on the Renault Film Festival thread.

Crustaces et Coqillages (2005) Cote d'Azur aka Cockles and Mussels

Directed by Olivier Ducastel & Jacques Martineau

Starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi (5x2), Gilbert Melki (Intimate Strangers)

Frothy French farce with quite a 1960s feel to it, bright and breezy and ultimately pretty disposable. 

The story revolves around a family on holiday on the Cote d'Azur in a house inherited by the husband, each has secrets that will inevitably be revealed but of course being a light farce, everything ends on a happy note. Batrix and Marc are open-minded parents; they dont mind their daughter flitting off shortly after they arrive at their holiday home for a separate holiday with her boyfriend.

Shortly after, their son Charlys best friend Mathieu arrives and for some reason Batrix assumes they are gay lovers which of course being as open minded as she is doesnt worry her at all. Batrix has her own secret to keep, her lover has also arrived and strangely in a film with so many gay overtones he is by far the campest character and has a habit of suddenly appearing in various states of undress to carry on their affair.

Marc used to reside on the Cote d'Azur in his younger days and his past catches up with him in the form of a local plumber with whom he had something deeper than friendship. Mathieu who is openly gay does fancy Charly but knows hes straight, its also clear (at least in hindsight) that Mathieu knows that Marc is gay. Also very obvious is the fact that Mathieu has rekindled Marc's old urges, feelings that start to emerge well before he is reunited with his past.

Gradually everything comes to a head and everyones secrets are revealed leading to an all singing, all dancing finale with (of course) nobody hurt and everyone very happy. 

Cheers Trev.