FRANCOIS BOUVIER

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBBB. 

Canada, 2005.  Screenplay by Nathalie Petrowski, based on her novel.  Cinematography by Allen Smith.  Produced by Pierre Gendron, Christian Larouche.  Music by Michel Corriveau.  Production Design by Jean Becotte.  Costume Design by Monic Ferland.  Film Editing by Claude Palardy.  

Sophie Lorain is a gem in this adorable comedy about a boozing, party-animal newspaper columnist who lives the life every night with her two best friends (Stéphane Demers, Anne-Marie Cadieux) before crawling home to the bed of her endlessly patient boyfriend (Patrick Huard). Proud of her independence at 38 and insistent on never tying herself down, she is naturally distraught when her regular pregnancy test (its perennially negative status her link to freedom) comes up positive and forces her to re-evaluate her priorities. Will she be able to retain what she loves most about her life and still be a good parent? Does she even want to be a parent? And what of the career-threatening scandal that occurs when she aids a woman in getting an abortion by promoting her plight in the press and ends up being party to a swindle? Watching it all play out is a joy from start to finish, punctuated by the delightful supporting cast, the colourful cinematography and Francois Bouvier’s energetic direction.