| Hunting and Gathering (Ensemble, c'est tout) |
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Promotional film poster |
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| Directed by | Claude Berri |
| Produced by | Claude Berri Nathalie Rheims(associate producer) Pierre Grunstein (associate producer) |
| Written by | Anna Gavalda (novel) Claude Berri (screenplay) |
| Starring | Audrey Tautou Guillaume Canet Laurent Stocker Françoise Bertin Alain Sachs Firmine Richard |
| Music by | Frédéric Botton |
| Cinematography | Agnès Godard |
| Editing by | François Gédigier |
| Distributed by | Pathé |
| Release date(s) | March 21, 2007 |
| Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| Box office | $31,904,005 |
Hunting and Gathering (French: Ensemble, c'est tout) is a 2007 French César Award-winning romantic film based on the writer Anna Gavalda's 2004 novel Ensemble, c'est tout. It was directed by Claude Berri, who also wrote the screenplay, and stars Audrey Tautou, Guillaume Canet, Laurent Stocker, Françoise Bertin and Alain Sachs. It premiered on March 21, 2007.
Contents |
The film opens showing the day-to-day life of an elderly lady named Paulette. Paulette lives alone, dedicated to her animals, in particular her cats, and her garden. Her worst fear is of dying far from her home and garden. However, when she takes a fall she is sent to hospital who then advise that she recovers in a nursing-home, much to her dismay.
Meanwhile, Camille, an artist and cleaning lady, lives a lonely life in a small attic in Paris. One day she meets the shy postcard salesman Philibert, who lives in a big apartment in her building which is filled with antique furniture he has inherited. Philibert has arranged his life to have as little contact with the outer world as possible. Instead he lets his lodger, Franck, who works as a low rank cook in a big restaurant, takes care of his shopping and all such things. Philibert and Franck are complete opposites, Philibert is a gentleman, classical and has a horrible stutter. Franck is constantly busy, working long hours at the restaurant and going to visit his grandmother, Paulette, who raised him on his only day off.
When Camille becomes severely ill with the flu, Philibert invites her to stay in the apartment as well. After irritations with Franck in the beginning, who is permanently stressed-out by his work and destresses by drinking and entertaining women and also, by looking after his grandmother, they become a merry community. However, before they unite many heated arguments pass between Camille and Franck, the latter annoyed at her presence and the former finding him rude and disrepectful. One example is when, whilst drunk, he refuses to turn down the music resulting in Camille throwing his stereo out of the window. She later rectifies the situation by re-buying a stereo and Franck apologises for his behaviour.
The turning point comes when, determined to return to her tiny attic, Camille finds the key to the apartement missing. Franck tells her that it is in his pocket but refuses to give it back, asking that she stays with Philibert and Franck as he can see that Philibert is decidely happier and more eager to interact with others when she is around.
Meanwhile, Philibert has joined a comedy club with a woman he likes who later becomes his girlfriend. Initially, people laugh at his stutter however he takes classes and discovers that it disappears when he performs. Philibert later gives a show for the public and proposes to his girlfriend on stage.
After a few months in respite, Paulette is eager to return home however she is too fragile to live along. Camille, who has become close with the old woman convinces Franck to let her life at the apartement where she will look after her. Initially hesitant, Franck agrees and Paulette moves in.
Around the same time Franck and Camille start a sexual relationship, after a period of flirting where it was clear that they were attracted to each other. However, when Camille sets the rule of not falling in love, Franck is visibly upset and withdraws from Camille as he has already fallen in love with her.
Paulette later returns to her home where Camille lives to help out as well. However after a short time she passes away, exactly as she wanted, in her beloved home. At the same time, Philibert's apartement is sold by his great-aunt and the trio break up. Camille, realising she is in love with Franck tries to contact him however he remains withdrawn.
After she waits for him outside his restaurant, they go out for a drink where Franck reveals he is moving to England at the end of the week. Camille insists that he should stay in France and buy a restaurant where they had eaten for her birthday so he could be his own boss. Franck, sick of her excuses, asks her why she doesn't just ask him to stay because she loves him to which Camille replies that she's afraid.
Later that week, Camille arrives just in time to say goodbye to Franck, finally being able to beg him to stay to which he replies that he has already left in his mind. Heartbroken, Camille walks out of the train station where she receives a call from Franck. He tells her he's worried that she is walking all alone, crying and lost to which she denies and says she's fine. Franck appears behind her, unbeknownst to Camille and surprises her. The two kiss passionately, happy to be together again.
The film ends with Franck working at his restaurant which is highly popular. Camille, Philibert and his wife all work there as well. When Franck sees Camille admiring a baby, someone makes a joke about when it's her time to be a mother. In response, Franck picks Camille up and takes her out back to his office.
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