Priceless (Hors de prix)

It has long been the contention of the Celtic sage that there may be more wonderful actresses than Audrey Tautou but there is none more wondrous! I had wanted to see the French actress as the iconic couturier Coco Chanel, who died aged 87 in 1971, in her new movie ‘Coco Before Chanel’ -“Coco avant Chanel.” Alas, due to the machinations of the evil big distributors our local Multiplex was full of the usual popcorn movies. So I consoled myself instead with a DVD of the comedy Priceless (Hors de prix) in which Tautou plays a character who echoes Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and where she does at least wear Chanel little black dresses. Pierre Salvadori’s Priceless is a sexy and thoroughly charming romantic comedy, and a fresh re-imagining of the cinema classic, Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Priceless is playful, cheeky, and boasts excellent chemistry between its leads, which is crucial to pull off a romantic comedy so dependent on their banter and interaction. Through a set of wacky circumstances, a young gold digger mistakenly woos a mild-mannered bartender thinking he's a wealthy suitor. The goofball silliness of the story combined with the brightly coloured French Riviera and, of course, the irresistible Tautou makes this somewhat lightweight movie surprisingly entertaining.


Audrey Tautou and Gad Elmaleh

Audrey Tautou plays Irene, a high maintenance gold digging prostitute who flits from one elderly man to another, in the hopes of seducing and convincing them into marriage, while in the meantime milking all she could from their company. It's haute fashion label dropping, living the high life in expensive hotel suites, for free. In an uncontrollable one night stand, she hooks up with waiter Jean (Gad Elmaleh), who while he is totally out of her league, falls hard for her, and becomes a constant thorn in her side as she goes about her predatory mission in life.

Not your usual romance movie where the bickering couple are expected to kiss, make up, and bicker some more, Priceless does two things in its narrative. One, in its reminder to the male suckers out there to be wary of high maintenance women - if you don't have what it takes (and that simply means a really fat bankroll), forget about it, as she'll drain your finances as simply as it takes to gulp down a glass of water. Two, perhaps it really does pay for those who are kept men and women, if they don't mind trading their bodies for material pleasures that a rich life can offer.



And from adversaries to partners in crime, Priceless sprinkles its narrative with scenes like from The Guru, where tips and tricks of the trade are shared, and played for laughs. And this is especially so with Jean's natural charms mixed with Mr Bean like demeanour. Outstanding is Moroccan actor Gad Elmaleh, who throws this constant innocent blank look, when he's hamming it up pretending to be loaded, or practising turning on his charms (consciously or otherwise). He brings to Jean a sense of helplessness in falling for the woman of his dreams much against his finances, and gives Jean that chivalrous character that will surely win many over.

Fans of Audrey Tautou will reminisce her portrayal as Irene to be similar to the quirky Amèlie, only that this time round; she's the complete slut whom you pity for having such a materialistic nature. Her plunging necklines all the way down to the navel will no doubt raise temperatures, and while noticeably older, has brought about a sense of maturity from giggling girl to all women.



The point about a certain type of contemporary French comedy, of which "Priceless" is a fine example, is the quality of the playing style. Nobody forces the situations, even the broadest ones. "Priceless" would no doubt suffer the usual crassness if Hollywood ever remade it in English. The film may be a contraption, but it is acted with simplicity and charm.



Peppered with an excellent soundtrack, the best songs were kept for a party scene, and for as many party scenes featured in various movies, I'd rate this one as one of the most interesting, thanks to the key music, characters, and the scene that plays out just right. The film rolls along at a sedate pace, not slow but definitely not rushed by any means. Audrey Tautou is magnificent and Gad Elmaleh’s performance is a good mixture of innocence and daring. Even though it has a “12” certificate Priceless isn’t for children. The subject matter alone warrants an adult audience. Don’t expect a stunning cinematic experience but rather an enjoyable journey that’s just plain fun.

All in all, this is an entertaining modern morality tale which will resonate from Wolverhampton to Dubai to its setting on the French Riviera.



Coincidentally Audrey Tautou has also become the face of the iconic Chanel No. 5 perfume and appears in a “mini movie” to advertise this enduring and expensive fragrance. In the film, Tautou departs from Venice and comes to Istanbul by Orient Express. A young man, played by model Travis Davenport, falls in love with the woman because of her perfume. The two find each other in Istanbul again thanks to the perfume. The film does not include any dialogue. The Haydarpaşa train station, the Bosphorus, the Bosphorus Bridge and boats are seen in the film.