aka Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie.A languid and virtually plot-less view of the lives of three respectable upper middle class couples. We watch as they try to host dinner parties, the men do business (we see one, an ambassador, using his diplomatic status to traffic cocaine) and the women lunch. All is done in a very precise way, demanded by the etiquette each situation demands. Into this outwardly normal lifestyle we follow them as various often trivial problems occur to prevent their enjoyment and characters dream within dream sequences which enliven the film.
This is a complex and ever changing fog of often meaningless events, that get more and more surreal as the film progresses, for example a siren can cover an important speech for no apparent reason. The comedy sometimes comes from these surreal events but often from the characters interaction and their hypocracy. A film that in 1972 was a biting satire has become slightly blunted with age, I don't know anyone who now views such people as our betters as was the case. Even so, it's still a great piece of film making and a joy to watch as it throws out the rulebook for structure, cinematography and events as the director redesigns film law.
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