My Wife Is an Actress

REVIEW
Real-life partners Attal and Gainsbourg imitate life through art in this entertaining bit of Gaullic whimsy which marks Attal’s directorial debut. Sportswriter Yvan (Attal) and film star Charlotte (Gainsbourg) enjoy the comfort of the fast-paced lives of the affluent and famous, even if Charlotte’s notoriety occasionally bruises Yvan’s ego. But Yvan finds his personal security shaken when Charlotte’s new costar (Stamp) is an older, sexy, world-renown ladies’ man, looking forward to the intimate and passionate love scene slated for the film. This comedy of manners plays out beautifully against the lush elegance of Paris and London, as Yvan bounces back and forth between them, trying to keep tabs on his wife and her leading man as the filming progresses to the moment that will either materialize Yvan’s worst fears or certify Charlotte’s prowess as a thespian. Attal and Gainsbourg’s conjugal affinity is right up on the screen, and when has Stamp ever been less than mesmerizing? Despite a few first-time-director indulgences, Attal keeps the action moving, making good use of the sparkling cast and the stunning locations. A welcome bit of fluff in these highly-stressed times, My Wife is an Actress is 95 minutes of harmless escapist entertainment. (French with English subtitles) <