Daddy dearest

>> Gérard Jugnot paints a charming father-daughter portrait with Meilleur espoir féminin

by SIOBHÀN O'CONNOR

If he weren't such a charming and talented actor, one could easily accuse French writer-director Gérard Jugnot of not knowing when to step aside. The director, who's cast himself in leading roles in his previous films, stars again in his latest, Meilleur espoir féminin, as a single hairdresser dad named Yvon who's struggling to let go of his teenage daughter Laetitia (Bérénice Bejo).

The bittersweet comedy is set alternately in provincial France and bustling Paris, and centres around the always tricky but often rewarding dynamic that exists between fathers and daughters. The two share a unique intimacy, but Yvon has it in his head that Laetitia will grow up to be a hairdresser like him--until, of course, he learns that she's won a leading role in some big-shit director's latest opus.

Laetitia is at that feisty, hot and bothered stage between teenagerdom and adulthood; she still wants hot milk before bed but she's also ready to start her own life. Not sure if she wants to be sleeping with a teddy bear or her lascivious director, she has to choose between glamorous stardom and life with dad. Wacky and admittedly very funny hijinx ensue as dad's attempted interferences fail, and eventually she's off to Paris. Dad must let his baby go.

Filmmakers have tried to tackle father-daughter relationships in the past, (a cute but annoying example being Father of the Bride) but Meilleur espoir féminin stands out as a very funny and touching take on the theme. What's especially pleasing is Jugnot's honest but light-hearted treatment of Yvon's heartbreak at his daughter's independence. While Jugnot shares a writing credit with Isabelle Mergault, it's unfortunately clear by the film's end that his hands were a tad too full.

While his impeccable comedic timing and onscreen charisma shine, it feels like the director went out to lunch halfway through the film and only made it back in time for the very tidy ending. Still, Bejo and Jugnot excel in their roles, managing to convey a rare familial relationship, something that, loose ends aside, contributes to a very affecting and hilarious addition to Jugnot's oeuvre.

Meilleur espoir féminin opens Friday, March 16