French Film Review: Iris and the Men

This film looks to be a winner and many people including myself will see it purely because it stars the charming Laure Calamy (‘Antoinette in the Cévennes’, ‘Call My Agent’). Iris (Calamy) has a busy life with a loving husband and two daughters living in a beautiful Parisian apartment. She is a successful, if somewhat eccentric, dentist (who looks at texts when a patient has their mouth open waiting to be drilled?). But, and it’s a big BUT, Iris has not had sex with her husband for a long time. The spark has gone between them.

A mother at parent-teacher night overhears Iris complaining on the phone about the lack of sex and quietly suggests she take on a lover. So ‘pourqoi pas?’, Iris begins to delve into the world of dating apps for married people and after an awkward start, embraces this advice with gusto – hence the film’s title ‘Iris and the Men’ – and starts living life to the full, experiencing the joys of sex with different partners. Aaaah, the ‘freedom’ of it all. Albeit clandestinely.

Iris sets herself a couple of rules – no meeting in cafes and she will only bed a man once. And of course, she will never leave her husband, as she still loves him. She soon gets the hang of it and goes through a series of men and a sexual re-awakening of sorts.

The men are varied, and there are some interesting existential conversations along with all the sex. Iris is rethinking her whole life and is now an enthusiastic advocate of following your passion and getting the most out of life. Much to her daughter’s distress and embarrassment when at a small dinner party at home, Iris fervently encourages her to not study so hard at school and go out and enjoy life.

Iris and the Men: French Film

It’s not a musical, but somehow the director (Caroline Vignal, who also directed (‘Antoinette in the Cévennes’) managed to successfully work in an all-singing all-dancing French version of ‘It’s Raining Men’. It’s an entertaining number, and Calamy shines.

Keep a close eye on the bit of a twist ending; rummage for the last of the Maltesers and you could miss it.

This is billed variously as ‘cheeky, ‘joyous’ and ‘a feel-good delight’, but even for a light-hearted film, I found the storyline immature, naïve, and incredibly unrealistic. Everything looks rosy and all the men are nice; not a sleazebag among them. But even so, if you are triggered by infidelity, then this is not the film for you. I’d love to know what French people think – are they really that casual about affairs? Does having an affair in France put the marriage and kids at risk? Or is it ‘c’est la vie’ and back to family life as usual?

This film is not in the same league as ‘Antoinette in the Cévennes’, even though it tries for that same gentle humor, but the screen magic of Calamy will no doubt get this film over the line.

palacefilms.com.au/iris-and-the-men

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