Victoria Curatolo | On 21, Aug 2020

Director: Grégory Magne
Cast: Emmanuelle Devos, Grégory Montel
Certificate: TBC
Watch Perfumes online in the UK: Curzon Home Cinema

Emmanuelle Devos stars in Grégory Magne’s second directorial feature, Perfumes, as Anne, a former esteemed perfume extraordinaire whose temporary loss of smell enforces her to work in odour camouflaging – as opposed to concocting some of the world’s most famous eau de toilettes. An introvert, Anne hires a chauffeur and employs down-on-his-luck Guillaume (Grégory Montel) who, desperate for money, takes the job in the hopes of obtaining joint custody of his ten-year-old daughter. Guillaume soon realises why so many chauffeurs turned down the offer, as Anne orders him to go above and beyond his duties – including changing bedsheets and taking notes of her business meetings. The unlikely duo clash but ultimately settle on an understanding, and the two embark on an unusual partnership filled with compassionate and charming moments.

Devos is arguably one of France’s most prestigious and alluring actors, captivating audiences with performances in La Moustache (2005), Violette (2013), and Sur mes lèvres (2001) for which she picked up the César Award for Best Actress. Montel is best known for appearing in Magne’s previous feature, L’air De Rien (2012), which made an impression on audiences and critics alike, earning him a César nomination for Best Actor. Devos, a veteran, and Montel, a rookie, are perfectly cast to embody a mirror of themselves which they might recognise off-screen.

Perfumes in an alluring and captivating film that you can’t help but smile at. Magne is already labelling himself as a simple storyteller – one with heart, reliability and charm – despite his waiting seven years for a follow-up to L’air De Rien. His exploration of the everyman is what endures his viewers, no matter how rudimentary or unremarkable his plots may be.

Perfumes, however, does feel somewhat unfinished or abrupt in its story progression. It jumps from a typical impending romance tale to an unusual buddy comedy – floating around the rom-com conventions, yet somehow never managing to settle down. However, Devos and Montel are encapsulating, epitomising the perfect on-screen partnership that makes their relationship believable and relatable – be it romantic or purely platonic. Which is it? It doesn’t matter, as long as they’re there.

Perfumes is available to rent on Curzon Home Cinema.

Add to Watchlist