Just An Illusion (Subtitled) (12A)

(Subtitled)

Language: French

Louis Garrel and Camille Cottin sizzle as an 80s couple in crisis.

The directing duo behind uplifting mega-hit Intouchables return with this warm-hearted coming-of-age drama, but it’s the parents who prove the most compelling part of the story. Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano bring their trademark charm to 1980s Paris, following 13-year-old Vincent as he navigates adolescence, a hopeless crush and a fractious atmosphere at home. His father, Yves (Garrel), has been out of work for months but still dresses for a job he doesn’t have, while his ambitious mother, Sandrine (Cottin), embraces the technological future by enrolling on an IT course.

Both actors are terrific, bringing an irresistible chemistry to a marriage struggling to keep pace with changing times. Vincent gets into a series of harmless scrapes, from an ill-advised video-shop rental to a bar mitzvah mishap, while the film lovingly recreates the era with chunky computers, recession-era anxieties and all the awkwardness of teenage life.

There’s plenty to enjoy, but the scenes between Garrel and Cottin have the real spark. As Sandrine finds herself doing it all while Yves struggles to adapt, their combustible pairing feels ripe for a relationship comedy of its own.