Our Precious Children /
Nos Enfants Chéris (R)

by  Benoît Cohen

Nos Enfants Chéris / Our Precious Children is Benoît Cohen's wholly entertaining comedy-drama about a group of 'thirty-somethings' who are thrown-in together one summer.

Roughly five years after they broke up, Martin (Mathieu Demy) and Constance (Romane Bohringer) unexpectedly meet in a supermarket; both are now married and literally have infants strapped to their chests. After they discover their families will be spending their summers in close proximity, the fiery, outgoing Constance suggests they should all get together. Without further notice, she arrives at Martin's summerhouse with her husband Arnaud (Mathias Mlekuz) and their two daughters - much to the consternation of Martin's wife, Ariane (Laurence Côte). Despite the abrupt arrival (it's almost a home invasion) and the subsequent appearance of three more of their mutual friends (plus one more toddler!), an uneasy and tempestuous order is attained as the seven adults and four children settle into a holiday routine.

At certain points, this sojourn seems idyllic - the odd group dines al fresco, splits up into smaller groups to go to the market or play badminton and shares parenting chores. However, as the days pass, tempers grow short and a dense matrix of sexual desires and marital shortcomings threatens to send Martin and Constance chasing after the passion of their earlier relationship.

With his third feature, Benoît Cohen has created a dynamic and incisive comedy, exploring with tenderness the smaller things in life. Cohen visualizes complex relationships in ingenious ways. The film scrutinizes motives without being judgmental and is sexy without oversimplifying the issue of extramarital affairs.

France - 2003 -Comedy - 85 mn -French with English subtitles
Director: Benoît Cohen
Script: Benoît Cohen, Eléonore Pourriat
With: Romane Bohringer, Mathieu Demy, Laurence Côte, Julien Boisselier, Mathias Mlekus, Eléonore Pourriat, Fabio Zenoni