The Housekeeper (2002)

The Housekeeper is sufficiently well crafted that it succeeds despite its limitations. The film's premise isn't all that original and certain aspects of the May/December relationship between Jacques (Jean-Pierre Bacri) and Laura (Emilie Dequenne) conform too much to expectations; for example, the younger woman has to be the one who's vivacious and enjoys trashy television and pop music, while the older man has to be the one who's relatively stodgy and enjoys classical music and Russian literature. Nonetheless, the story unfolds in a relatively natural and believable manner; writer/director Claude Berri (who adapted the film from a book by Christian Oster) gradually reveals more about the characters and carefully moves the story forward while steering it away from the wish-fulfillment fantasy we might expect into something more layered and realistic. Consequently, it seems like we're watching real people and not just walking clichés. Not surprisingly, Berri seems more interested in getting inside the male lead's head than understanding Laura, who sometimes seems as enigmatic to the viewer as she probably does to Jacques. But Dequenne does an excellent job of playing someone with a realistically contradictory personality who seems both naïve and manipulative, as well as both needy and independent. Meanwhile, Bacri is superb in his role as a lonely and somewhat brittle man. He particularly excels at showing his character's feelings unfold subtly on his face as Jacques tries to hide them. The Housekeeper isn't overflowing with plot or big dramatic moments, but it works as an unassuming slice-of-life film. ~ Todd Kristel, All Movie Guide