"Writer/director Alexandra Leclure, ably assisted by her wonderful cast (and a pleasant score by Philippe Sarde) has crafted an engaging story from a simple and elegant premise." Lara Derham DBMAGAZINE "This enjoyably bitchy comedy about two mis-matched sisters offers great roles for both Isabelle Huppert and Catherine Frot, and the actresses miss none of the opportunities provided. They're both terrific, Huppert as the uptight Martine and Frot as the blissfully naïve Louise." David Stratton ABC AT THE MOVIES "Face to face the actresses are at their top. This comedy written without an idle period makes every moment fly. In a register located between films of Jean-Daniel Pollet with Melki and those of Agnes Jaoui." Jean Roy HUMANITY ON LINE

"The beginning of Me And My Sister is deceptive. It appeared to be going nowhere fast, a kind of faux glimpse at Paris society that pulled its punches. Then the penny dropped. It gets funnier and funnier, and also progressively more moving - a deadly accurate glimpse into sibling rivalry and midlife crisis." SBS THE MOVIE SHOW "It's a striking feature debut for Alexandra Leclere. Probing the sisters' uneasy relationship, she invokes the spirit of Jacques Demy via a clip of Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, a musical about two much happier sisters, in the process offering a timely reminder about life's possibilities. The final sequence is magnificent." Tom Ryan THE SUNDAY AGE "Beyond the bursts of laughter and shouts, this film crunches without kindness, but with a touching tenderness, two beautiful portraits of women." Alain Spira PARIS MATCH

The Inside Story

What a joy it is to see these two shrewd ladies sparring with delicious dialogue. Huppert has Louise chewing on her sour grapes and spitting the seeds at her sister - but they just won't stick. * * * * stars" Stan James THE ADELAIDE ADVERTISER REVIEW

For those who love the taste of french, and at this point may I say films such as "The Taste Of Others", "The Piano Teacher' and "8 Femmes", Alexandra Leclère's film "Me And My Sister" starring Isabelle Huppert will provide a tasty treat indeed. The casting is excellent, the dialogue delightful and the score by Philippe Sarde is the icing on the cake. Alexandra Leclère says it took her a while to work out where her career was heading. "Like many young girls, I first imagined myself as an actress,." Leclère recalls. "I tried acting in everything I could, rather haphazardly, but I felt uncomfortable in front of the camera. It took me a long time to understand what really made me happy." If it wasn't acting then what was it? "Five years ago, I became aware of my desire to write and direct. Writing is a real pleasure for me as it’s the beginning of everything." And she discovered her specialty when it came to writing. "I’m fascinated by people and their emotions. I don’t think that I can invent stories, but I like what is real, emotional and involving. I have observed people for many years and now I want to transmit what I’ve seen." With "Me And My Sister", Alexandra Leclère is off to a great start. And that start makes a fascinating story in itself. "Dominique Besnehard had read my first screenplay and had liked my short film, so I sent the first version of the script of "Me and My Sister" to him, and he agreed to become my agent. I subsequently got in touch with Jean-François Gabard, Catherine Frot’s agent. This was a decisive moment. He was pleased with our meeting, and promised to read the script and pass it along to Catherine." It didn't happen for as Leclère explained, "I didn’t have any response for two months." Then fate stepped in. She ran into Isabelle Huppert. "Our paths crossed on the way to the elementary school, but I had never spoken to her before. She was surprised, but graciously agreed to read it." Leclère began the waiting game again but says. "Still without any responses, I went to the Cannes Film Festival in 2003, a little like a “Louise” with my suitcase full of scripts. It was urgent for me to put this project together, my happiness depended upon it!" Then good news came her way. "On the Croisette, I ran into Jean-François Gabard who told me that Catherine Frot had adored the screenplay and wanted to meet me!" Twenty four hours later she was home in Paris and had met with Catherine Frot who agreed to a part in the film. "Her trust gave me the serenity I needed. I then met with several producers, but it was love at first sight with Philippe Godeau," she admits. How come? "He had a sincerity and an authenticity that pleased me right away," Leclère recalls. "He really loved the script and I was sure that with him, my film would somehow get made, whatever the cost.' But what about Isabelle Huppert? "Isabelle Huppert took some time to think about it, "she said, "but she accepted the role after I reworked Martine’s character slightly, upon her recommendation." And then everything fell into place, right? "Everything went very quickly after her agreement." And how close to the heart is the story of "Me And My Sister"? "I have a sister who is two years older than me, who decided at one point in her life that she didn’t want to see me anymore", Leclère said. "We haven’t spoken for five years. Like Louise’s character, I too passed by a man for two years on my way to the elementary school. Then one day, when I couldn’t stand it anymore, I found the courage to speak to him. It took me six months to write Me and My Sister. The autobiographical part was substantial so I didn’t have any trouble finding the subject matter, it was all inside of me." It was quite a journey for the writer/director and that first meeting with Huppert, a moment the actress recalls well. "I met Alexandra in front of my son’s elementary school. A mutual friend had told me that she wanted to give me a script. I didn’t know her at all, and at first I was a little surprised," says Huppert. "Dominique Besnehard, her agent, believed in the story and insisted that I read it." Obviously Huppert found something to her liking in the script when she read it. "After my first reading, I sensed right away that this role existed and that it was good. Even if numerous points needed refining," she notes, "it was after all a first screenplay and a first film. The tone of the film was already there." So how would she describe her character Martine? "Beneath the surface, she is completely lost. She is an upper middle-class woman who is dependant on her husband, and who would like to work to become autonomous. Her situation allowed me to unveil her scene by scene. We see many different aspects of her personality, so haughty at the outset, then so unsure of herself when Louise tells of her romantic adventure. And she finally collapses under the weight of despair, envy and jealousy." And was it an enjoyable role to play? "Each day I got more pleasure out of acting, finding new and different possibilities to explore, thanks both to the role and to what my imagination allowed me to do with it." And her opinion of Alexandra Leclère? "Her capability placed her beyond a beginner’s level, yet she was one. That raised several questions for me: what is cinema, is it know-how and experience? Why is it that someone who has no training or experience can all of a sudden succeed in making a good film? In a certain manner, cinema will use any means at its disposal! Alexandra’s success wasn’t due to the fact, however, that she was treating a subject very close to her," Huppert believes. "She is truly talented. She perhaps has the energy and the stubbornness of people who don’t 'know' yet, and who therefore aren’t afraid." As for her co-star Catherine Frot, she says she feels somewhat close to her character Louise. "I sometimes feel set apart from things and people, not always 'in synch' with them, and I thus make them laugh at my own expense," she said adding, "and I can also provoke a certain embarrassment and experience a feeling of solitude. Louise has the habit of being overly optimistic too, as if to avoid problems, which also happens to me." And what was it that finally made her decide upon the part of Louise in the film? "The contact with Alexandra Leclère prompted me to commit myself to the project, and also the idea of being sisters with Isabelle Huppert." It's hard not to believe the two are onscreen sisters, they work so well together. Both actresses agree that the final decision on how well the film works is down to the public. Front commented that, "When a film is finished though, it doesn’t belong to us anymore. The public will decide." There'll be many a critic hoping that the public decides to take in "Me And My Sister". It's a real charmer. Casting About "ME AND MY SISTER" stars .......
Isabelle Huppert ["The Piano Teacher", "8 Women", "The Time Of The Wolf", "I Heart Huckabees" and "Gabrielle"]; Catherine Frot ["The Dinner Game", "Seven Years of Marriage", "Eros Therapy" and "Viper in the Fist"]; Brigitte Catillon ["The Taste Of Others", "Enchanted Interlude", "Frankie" and "The Housekeeper"]; Michel Vuillermoz ["My Sex Life... or How I Got Into an Argument", "Only God Sees Me", "Absolutely Fabulous", "The First Time I Turned Twenty" and "A Very Long Engagement"]; Christiane Millet ["Jeanne and the Perfect Guy", "The Adventures of Felix", "You'll Get Over It" and "The Landlords"]; Rose Thiéry ["All Fired Up", "The Keys to Paradise", "Shipwrecked Children" and "The Greenhouse"]; Bruno Chiche ["Barnie's Minor Annoyances"]; Françoise Dubois ["The Butterfly"] and François Berléand ["Don't Make Trouble!", "How I Killed My Father", "The Transporter", "The Chorus" and "The Transporter 2"] as Pierre Demouthy. Crew Bytes "ME AND MY SISTER" was .......
directed by Alexandra Leclère ["Bouche à bouche"]; screenplay by Alexandra Leclère ["Bouche à bouche" and "Me And My Sister"]; costume design by Esther Walz ["Arisha, the Bear and the Stone Ring", "Paradise Mall", "Catching the Stars" and "A Sound of Thunder"]; production design by Carlos Conti ["A Strange Place to Meet", "The Return of Casanova", "Dead Weight" and "The Motorcycle Diaries"]; edited by Jacqueline Mariani ["Every Other Weekend", "Pleasure (And Its Little Inconveniences)", "24 Hours in the Life of a Woman" and "Le Convoyeur"] and Hervé de Luze ["The Taste of Others", "The Pianist", "Body to Bod", "The Mystery of the Yellow Room" and "Not On the Lips"]; cinematography by Michel Amathieu ["Paranoïa", "One Night of Hypocrisy", "Los Angeles Without a Map", "Hijack Stories" and "Highway"]; original music by Philippe Sarde ["The Red and the Black", "Return to Algiers", "Same Player, Shoot Again" and "The Mystery of the Yellow Room"] produced by Philippe Godeau ["An Independent Life", "Adultery: A User's", "Bad Company" and "Mariages!"]. What It's All About

"It's a fine performance by Huppert, a subtle and gifted actor ... the film contains great moments of humour." Kirsten Heysen INSIDE ENTERTAINMENT SUNDAY MAIL

Martine Demouthy appears to have everything. A successful husband, a son, an apartment in Paris and what many would see as an ideal life. But Martine is withdrawn, rejects the advances of her husband and for her, life is decidedly miserable. Her sister Louise Mollet lives in Le Mans, has a young child, is happily married, has written a book and is infectiously happy. Now a publishing house has asked her to meet with them in Paris. She will stay with her sister Martine who has agreed to put her up for the few days she will be in town. What should be a happy reunion is spoilt by Martine's attitude towards Louise. Far from being supportive of her sisters luck and the pending publication of her book, Martime is annoyed by Louise who appears to take everything on face value and is overbearingly happy go lucky. The more the sisters are together the more worked up Martine becomes. Eventually she can no longer hold back and over a dinner with friends the claws come out as Martine tries to wipe the smile of her sisters face. Can sisterly love survive? The Verdict "While it may start out slow, "Me And My Sister" soon hots up. This is a real surprise. The two contrasting leads are perfectly pitched as the sisters Martine and Louise. Isabelle Huppert once again shows the class that helped her share in the cast success of "8 Women". If you love the taste of French then don't miss this wickedly, witty, wonderful tale of two sisters. It's a beauty! Highly Recommended The Cast

Isabelle Huppert Catherine Frot François Berléand Brigitte Catillon Michel Vuillermoz Christiane Millet Rose Thiéry Bruno Chiche Jean-Philippe Puymartin Aurore Auteuil Antoine Beaufils Françoise Dubois

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Martine Demouthy Louise Mollet Pierre Demouthy Sophie Richard Géraldine la bonne Fernanda Charles L'éditeur L'hôtesse accueil éditeur Alexandre Demouthy Hôtesse salon de coiffure

The Crew Directed by Alexandra Leclère Written by Alexandra Leclère Produced by Philippe Godeau Original Music by Philippe Sarde Cinematography by Michel Amathieu Film Editing by Jacqueline Mariani & Hervé de Luze Casting by Catherine Deserbais/Agathe Hassenforder/Françoise Menidrey Production Design by Carlos Conti Costume Design by Esther Walz Production Manager Jean-Jacques Albert Unit Production Manager François Menny Run Time 93 minutes Rated M15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2005 - Polyphony - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2005 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved