Coup de Chance

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https://sharmillfilms.com.au/feature-film/coup-de-chance/

Date Reviewed: 26/12/2023

The title Coup de Chance means “Stroke of Luck,” and it refers to the theme of luck that snakes its way through the movie.

A struggling writer named Alain buys a lottery ticket for his married lover, Fanny. The purchase is made on impulse; it’s an unintended romantic gesture. The odds are stacked against these ill-starred lovers and their adulterous affair is surely bound for disaster. But life is too short and the only moment that counts is now. Being a writer, Alain has a tendency to quote poetry. He says, “We all get frozen in ice if we don’t act before winter comes.” Winter certainly comes and the last scene is unexpected and not a disappointment.

The film moves swiftly captured in mostly short, crisp scenes and tends to generalise using its characters to make philosophical points. It is very much a romanticised American view of life, there is no grit or social realism about it at all, which accounts for the film feeling shallow at times.

It's hard to know how the script was translated from English to French (which Allen doesn't speak) and back for the subtitles but it works. Allen has pointed out in an interview that you don't need to speak a language to tell if a performance is good.

He draws strong, nicely nuanced performances from his cast. De Laarge is charming and vivacious and brings energy to her role. Poupard is suitably cold and aloof, while Lemercier is good as Camille. Schneider is wonderful as Alain!

Visually speaking, the film stands out thanks to Vittorio Storaro’s cinematography. Here, he manages to create a clever contrast between the blue-and-white colour palette of Fanny and Jean’s lavish apartment and the beautiful, warmer colours of the streets of the French capital in autumn.

The score is in line with the light-hearted mood of the tale, and the refrain of Herbie Hancock’s classic “Cantaloupe Island” serves as a link in between several of the scenes. I will admit that the score became monotonous after a while for me.

A problem with the script lies in the amount of money that Alain spends and the large collection of clothing he has in his flat considering he is a struggling writer who would have only received a modest advance for his book. Money does not seem to concern him.

Coup de Chance is an entertaining film featuring a simplistic storyline, a talented ensemble of actors, tender yet funny dialogue, and stunningly beautiful photography. If it turns out to be Allen's last venture into the film world as writer and director, he should be pleased!

Reviewed by Barry Hill OAM