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Priceless (film)
Encyclopedia
Priceless is a 2006 French
film directed by Pierre Salvadori
, who says it was adapted from the 1961 Blake Edwards
' film, Breakfast at Tiffany's, though the synopsis lays out more like the 1958 novella of the same name written by Truman Capote.
), a shy waiter at a luxury hotel, pretends to be a millionaire and awakens the interest of Irène (Audrey Tautou
), a gold digger
who makes wealthy men pay her bills. Irene's elderly lover gets drunk and falls asleep on her birthday so she goes to the bar in the hotel where she and Jean meet. He uses his barman skills to make her impressive cocktail
s, then he takes her up to the imperial suite where they spend the night. A year later Irène returns to her hotel with Jacques, who asks her to marry him. Later that day Jean and Irène sleep together again but Jacques sees them and breaks off the engagement
. Irène returns to Jean pretending she gave up Jacques to be with him, but they are discovered in the Imperial Suite. When Irène discovers who Jean really is, she escapes. However, Jean is in love and goes after her, finding her at Côte d'Azur. Pursuing her, he spends all the money to his name to pay for her presence, including his savings and pension plan, until he uses his final euro
for "10 more seconds".
When she leaves him for richer men and he is left with a hotel bill he can't pay, he is picked up by a wealthy widow and assumes the lifestyle of the one he pursues. Now that they are "equals", she teaches him the tricks of gold-digging and he soon wheedles a 30,000 Euro watch from his supporter, because he sulked after she forced him to have plastic surgery on his ear. He continues to prove himself a skillful gold digger when she later gives him a scooter. Jean and Irène steal away from their patrons at every chance they get, getting designer clothes and fancy food, until, on the morning of Irene's departure to Venice
with Gilles, they are caught kissing by Irène's patron, on the balcony of Jean's hotel room.
Furious, he leaves her with nothing but a sarong
and the swim suit she is wearing. Jean sells his watch to buy her a week's stay in their hotel and a gorgeous evening gown. He also gives her an invitation to a party which they both attend. Jean's patron is at first furious with his selling the watch, but is calmed and pleased when he gives her a beautiful pair of earrings he also bought with the money.
Irène shows up at the party and sees Jacques with another woman, and decides to steal him back with Jean's help. Even though his patron dumps him, Jean pretends to be a wealthy prince and seduces Jacques' new girlfriend, and Irène takes Jacques up to his room across from Jean's. Hoping he will catch his woman with Jean, she at first tries to direct his attention to the window, but finds herself in love
with Jean. She runs to his room, leaving her chance at a glamorous lifestyle, and tells Jean of her feelings. The movie ends as they ride off on his scooter to Italy, using the euro coin for the toll.
reported that 82% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 45 reviews. Metacritic
reported the film had an average score of 72 out of 100, based on 20 reviews.
Cinema of France
The Cinema of France comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad.France is the birthplace of cinema and was responsible for many of its early significant contributions. Several important cinematic movements, including the Nouvelle...
film directed by Pierre Salvadori
Pierre Salvadori
Pierre Salvadori is a French Corsican film director from Santo-Pietro-di-Venaco known for works on romantic comedies such as Hors de prix ....
, who says it was adapted from the 1961 Blake Edwards
Blake Edwards
Blake Edwards was an American film director, screenwriter and producer.Edwards' career began in the 1940s as an actor, but he soon turned to writing radio scripts at Columbia Pictures...
' film, Breakfast at Tiffany's, though the synopsis lays out more like the 1958 novella of the same name written by Truman Capote.
Plot
Jean (Gad ElmalehGad Elmaleh
Gad Elmaleh is a French-Moroccan stand-up comedian and actor. His latest show is called Papa est en haut . He has starred in several feature films, including Coco, Hors de prix, La Doublure and Midnight in Paris.- Early years :Elmaleh was born in Casablanca, Morocco...
), a shy waiter at a luxury hotel, pretends to be a millionaire and awakens the interest of Irène (Audrey Tautou
Audrey Tautou
Audrey Justine Tautou is a French model and film actress, best known for playing the title character in the award-winning 2001 film Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, Sophie Neveu in the 2006 thriller The Da Vinci Code, Irène in Priceless and Coco Chanel in Coco avant Chanel...
), a gold digger
Gold digger
A gold digger is someone who likes or takes interest to someone who is rich. It may also refer to:*"Gold Digger", 2005 single by Kanye West*"Gold Digger" , 2009 single by the British group The Dolly Rockers...
who makes wealthy men pay her bills. Irene's elderly lover gets drunk and falls asleep on her birthday so she goes to the bar in the hotel where she and Jean meet. He uses his barman skills to make her impressive cocktail
Cocktail
A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...
s, then he takes her up to the imperial suite where they spend the night. A year later Irène returns to her hotel with Jacques, who asks her to marry him. Later that day Jean and Irène sleep together again but Jacques sees them and breaks off the engagement
Engagement
An engagement or betrothal is a promise to marry, and also the period of time between proposal and marriage which may be lengthy or trivial. During this period, a couple is said to be betrothed, affianced, engaged to be married, or simply engaged...
. Irène returns to Jean pretending she gave up Jacques to be with him, but they are discovered in the Imperial Suite. When Irène discovers who Jean really is, she escapes. However, Jean is in love and goes after her, finding her at Côte d'Azur. Pursuing her, he spends all the money to his name to pay for her presence, including his savings and pension plan, until he uses his final euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
for "10 more seconds".
When she leaves him for richer men and he is left with a hotel bill he can't pay, he is picked up by a wealthy widow and assumes the lifestyle of the one he pursues. Now that they are "equals", she teaches him the tricks of gold-digging and he soon wheedles a 30,000 Euro watch from his supporter, because he sulked after she forced him to have plastic surgery on his ear. He continues to prove himself a skillful gold digger when she later gives him a scooter. Jean and Irène steal away from their patrons at every chance they get, getting designer clothes and fancy food, until, on the morning of Irene's departure to Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
with Gilles, they are caught kissing by Irène's patron, on the balcony of Jean's hotel room.
Furious, he leaves her with nothing but a sarong
Sarong
A sarong or sarung is a large tube or length of fabric, often wrapped around the waist and worn as a kilt by men and as a skirt by women throughout much of South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa, and on many Pacific islands. The fabric most often has woven plaid or...
and the swim suit she is wearing. Jean sells his watch to buy her a week's stay in their hotel and a gorgeous evening gown. He also gives her an invitation to a party which they both attend. Jean's patron is at first furious with his selling the watch, but is calmed and pleased when he gives her a beautiful pair of earrings he also bought with the money.
Irène shows up at the party and sees Jacques with another woman, and decides to steal him back with Jean's help. Even though his patron dumps him, Jean pretends to be a wealthy prince and seduces Jacques' new girlfriend, and Irène takes Jacques up to his room across from Jean's. Hoping he will catch his woman with Jean, she at first tries to direct his attention to the window, but finds herself in love
Love
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
with Jean. She runs to his room, leaving her chance at a glamorous lifestyle, and tells Jean of her feelings. The movie ends as they ride off on his scooter to Italy, using the euro coin for the toll.
Cast
- Audrey TautouAudrey TautouAudrey Justine Tautou is a French model and film actress, best known for playing the title character in the award-winning 2001 film Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, Sophie Neveu in the 2006 thriller The Da Vinci Code, Irène in Priceless and Coco Chanel in Coco avant Chanel...
: Irène - Gad ElmalehGad ElmalehGad Elmaleh is a French-Moroccan stand-up comedian and actor. His latest show is called Papa est en haut . He has starred in several feature films, including Coco, Hors de prix, La Doublure and Midnight in Paris.- Early years :Elmaleh was born in Casablanca, Morocco...
: Jean - Marie-Christine AdamMarie-Christine Adam-Filmography:*Deux jours à tuer *Hors de prix *Le Divorce *Argai: The Prophecy *Les Trois Frères *L'amour braque -External links:...
: Madeleine - Vernon DobtcheffVernon DobtcheffVernon Dobtcheff is a French and British actor.Dobtcheff was born in Nîmes, France, to a family of Russian descent. He attended Ascham Preparatory School in Eastbourne, Sussex, England, in the 1940s, where he won the Acting Cup...
: Jacques - Jacques SpiesserJacques Spiesser-Biography:After having taken courses at the Conservatoire, he made his film, debut in 1972, in Nina Companeez's Faustine et le bel été Nina Companeez with Muriel Catala.He is best known to English-speaking audiences for playing the role of Gilles in Priceless....
: Gilles - Annelise HesmeAnnelise HesmeAnnelise Hesme is a French actress.Born in Beaumont, Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne, France on May 11, 1976, Hesme has acted in many films such as Tanguy , Plus beau jour de ma vie and Fauteuils d'orchestre , yet her biggest production so far has been a minor role in Alexander as Stateira...
: Agnès
Critical reception
English language speaking critics gave the film strong positive reviews. As of May 1, 2008, the review aggregator Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reported that 82% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 45 reviews. Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
reported the film had an average score of 72 out of 100, based on 20 reviews.
External links
- Official site (French)