Roman de Gare

Claude Lelouch’s ode to the ‘train station novel’ is a perfectly balanced genre blend of romance and suspense thriller that shifts gears like an Aston Martin on Route One. Dominique Pinon ("Delicatessen") plays Louis, a self-proclaimed ghostwriter who may be an escaped serial killer fond of sleight-of-hand magic tricks. Louis rescues damsel-in-distress Huguette (Audrey Dana) after she’s been abandoned by her fiancé at a gas station on her way to introduce her would-be husband to her provincial family. Huguette also has a possible double identity as either a prostitute or a hairdresser. Lurking in the film’s core is Fanny Ardant as successful novelist Judith Ralitzer, whose upcoming book promises to put the icing on her career. This 41^st film from the director of the Palme d’Or winner "A Man and a Woman" (1966), is that scarce type of movie made with an overflowing joy of cinema that’s meant to be savored and enjoyed.

Rated R, 103 mins. (B) (Three out of 5 Stars)