Written and directed by Ivan Calberac, RIVIERA REVENGE is a gently accessible family comedy, an audience favourite at the 2025 Alliance Francaise French Film Festival.
Patriarch Francois Meursault (Andre Dusollier) is a retired General whose gruff, authoritarian nature has clearly contributed to the uncomfortable relationship he has with each of his children.
The eldest, Amaury (Gaël Giraudeau) despairs that he will never satisfy Francois’ exacting expectations; even though he has followed his father into a military career, he and his wife have produced four grand daughters, but no grandson. Francois does not even try to disguise his disappointment.
Daughter Capucine (Joséphine de Meaux) is reticent to reveal that she is gay, let alone to introduce her parents to her girlfriend, Mika (Eva Rami).
Their younger brother, Adrien (Sebastien Chassagne), is a puppeteer, a career which Francois clearly disdains.
Only Francois’ long-suffering wife, Annie (Sabine Azéma), appears to have some genuine rapport with Francois, yet it is clear that their 50 years of marriage have not been easy for her. His career took him away from her and their children for extended periods, which must have left her exhausted, lonely and vulnerable.
We meet the Meursault family on July 14th which is coincidentally, Annie’s birthday as well as the Fete Nationale – Bastille Day. They have all gathered at the parents’ home: the epitome of semi-rural, bourgeois charm. Instead of singing ‘Happy birthday’ to celebrate Annie’s birthday, Francois has re-written the words of the Marseillaise. His lack of talent as a lyricist is somewhat made up for by the underlying sentiment: he clearly loves his wife, in his own way.
However, days later when he is clearing out the attic, Francois discovers a bundle of love letters written to Annie by another man, Boris, an old friend of them both. When he further realises that the letters were written well after he and Annie were married, Francois’ pride is mortally injured. Not only does he demand a divorce, but he vows to confront Boris (Thierry Lhermitte) and beat him up.
Annie insists on accompanying him to Nice, where Francois has ascertained Boris now lives. So do their three children.
After an initial hilarious confrontation between Francois and Boris, the former friends sit down and, in the course of their reminiscences, various other romantic liaisons are recalled, which certainly make Francois re-evaluate his moral outrage.
Meanwhile, Annie and Francois both spend time alone with their various children who live in the area. Secrets are revealed, and some form of resolution is achieved, decisions are gradually made. Most importantly, Francois finally discovers some capacity to empathise with and accept others, for what they are, not what he would have them be.
Most people will not only chuckle at the folly of the various characters, but hopefully, will find the film as cathartic as it is humorous. It is a comedy with heart.
Like the performances, design and production values are excellent, making RIVIERA REVENGE as visually delightful as it is entertaining.
