This hilarious, moving book confirms that women are the superior sex
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Tilt
Emma Pattee
Harper Collins, $32.99
Every once in a while, a book comes along that alters the way you perceive the written word – the prose punctures something deep inside your soul. Your response is both emotional and physical. You are reminded why literature is superior at mining the depths of the human condition.
While reading Emma Pattee's debut novel Tilt, a surprisingly hilarious and heart-wrenching feminist survivalist narrative about a heavily pregnant woman trying to locate her husband after a huge earthquake, I felt my entire body being pulled up by some invisible hand. Some passages literally left me feeling as though I was being elevated off my seat.
Such were the effects of Pattee's reflections on love, loss and unresolved grief.
Our heroine Annie is 37 weeks' pregnant and begrudgingly shopping for a crib at Ikea on a Monday morning when the earthquake hits. It's The Big One, long predicted to occur along the Pacific Northwest of the US in the next decade.
Annie is alone when the quake strikes, but manages to clamber out of the ruins of the megastore with the help of a benevolent Ikea employee. In a stampede of panicked survivors, the pair lose each other.
Without her phone, Annie is powerless, weak, vulnerable. She has no way to get in touch with her husband, a struggling actor, who she believes is working at a cafe on the other side of the city. For the rest of the book, we chart her voyage on foot through the streets of Portland as she reflects on her impending parenthood, her relationship with her child's father, Dom, and the recent loss of her mother.
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The Advertiser
19 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Who knew infidelity could be laugh-out-loud funny?
Riviera Revenge (M, 94 minutes) 4 Stars A family lunch in the gardens of a fine house in the French countryside sets the stage in the opening scenes of this witty French comedy which focuses on a mature-age couple with decades of family relationship drama. On this occasion, a birthday has brought three generations of the family together. The two adult sons, along with a pregnant wife and four granddaughters, and an adult daughter are in attendance to celebrate with Annie (Sabine Azema) who is trim and attractive, and as calm and contained as her husband Francois (Andre Dussolier) is disagreeable. It doesn't take long for the fault lines in the family to be exposed. Francois, a retired general, is an uptight conservative who can't accept that one of his sons is a gentle marionettist, even though the other has followed in his footsteps. And he can't help making it plain that it's time a grandson arrived. The couple's children wonder what mum sees in him. Is he a great lay? When the guests have fled, Francois retreats to the attic to clear some clutter. He discovers a bundle of old letters, ardent letters to his wife revealing a passionate affair with a certain Boris (Thierry Lhermitte). Annie eventually admits to it. Francois was away, she immersed in small children, someone had found her desirable nonetheless, but she loves him still and it happened 40 years ago. Francois sleeps in the study. It is good to see these two lead actors, Dussolier and Azema, who complement each other well, dominate the frame. And interesting to discover that Azema appeared in many films by the late celebrated director, Alain Resnais, and became his wife. As Francois digs in deeper, feeling keenly that he has lost face, he becomes a figure of fun. An unbending Gaullist, a lifelong patriot who owns a bust of Napoleon, an upright man who declares time and time again that he has never cheated. We just about believe him. Revenge must be served, hot rather than cold, while Francois has his rival in his sights. Former army colleagues can't be convinced to help him take revenge so he and Annie will have to go to Nice where Boris lives, identify and confront him with the dishonour man-to-man. An aging former hippie who used to play guitar will surely be no match for a former military man. Boris is not, however, as expected. He cycles around town and wears a black belt at his martial arts classes. Still not content to let bygones be bygones, Francois is undeterred and the tone shifts to farce. But Francois' decision to reconnect with a former lover of his own introduces another tonal shift. He finds her, and it is a ruefully tender moment. The points that writer-director Ivan Calberg makes about relationships are sharp and insightful. While the ensemble of actors is all an asset to the production, which, at a crisp hour and half, doesn't outstay its welcome. It is a changed world that the old republican, Francois, has yet to come to terms with. It's not something a visit to a nudist beach will put to rights. A rush of social changes has made it a place where women are independent, where young men can pursue their artistic talents and where young women are free to choose their sexual orientation. His daughter Capucine (Josephine de Meaux) has yet another revelation for him. There is still much to come to terms with for this representative of the traditional, conservative classes. This terrific comedy replete with laugh-out-loud moments is a refreshing export from a country where levels of sexism is sometimes surprising, and where the attitudes to infidelity seem to differ from our own. And where the president could take a mistress or two and expect to have the details of his private life discreetly hidden from view. Riviera Revenge will endear itself to women especially. It's not that the title of this cheeky farce is misleading, it's just that the original French one works so much better. N'avoue Jamais, translating to "Never Admit to Anything" casts a different slant on things and is a better fit with the closing revelations. And, by the way, it did ever so well at the box office in France. They liked it too. Riviera Revenge (M, 94 minutes) 4 Stars A family lunch in the gardens of a fine house in the French countryside sets the stage in the opening scenes of this witty French comedy which focuses on a mature-age couple with decades of family relationship drama. On this occasion, a birthday has brought three generations of the family together. The two adult sons, along with a pregnant wife and four granddaughters, and an adult daughter are in attendance to celebrate with Annie (Sabine Azema) who is trim and attractive, and as calm and contained as her husband Francois (Andre Dussolier) is disagreeable. It doesn't take long for the fault lines in the family to be exposed. Francois, a retired general, is an uptight conservative who can't accept that one of his sons is a gentle marionettist, even though the other has followed in his footsteps. And he can't help making it plain that it's time a grandson arrived. The couple's children wonder what mum sees in him. Is he a great lay? When the guests have fled, Francois retreats to the attic to clear some clutter. He discovers a bundle of old letters, ardent letters to his wife revealing a passionate affair with a certain Boris (Thierry Lhermitte). Annie eventually admits to it. Francois was away, she immersed in small children, someone had found her desirable nonetheless, but she loves him still and it happened 40 years ago. Francois sleeps in the study. It is good to see these two lead actors, Dussolier and Azema, who complement each other well, dominate the frame. And interesting to discover that Azema appeared in many films by the late celebrated director, Alain Resnais, and became his wife. As Francois digs in deeper, feeling keenly that he has lost face, he becomes a figure of fun. An unbending Gaullist, a lifelong patriot who owns a bust of Napoleon, an upright man who declares time and time again that he has never cheated. We just about believe him. Revenge must be served, hot rather than cold, while Francois has his rival in his sights. Former army colleagues can't be convinced to help him take revenge so he and Annie will have to go to Nice where Boris lives, identify and confront him with the dishonour man-to-man. An aging former hippie who used to play guitar will surely be no match for a former military man. Boris is not, however, as expected. He cycles around town and wears a black belt at his martial arts classes. Still not content to let bygones be bygones, Francois is undeterred and the tone shifts to farce. But Francois' decision to reconnect with a former lover of his own introduces another tonal shift. He finds her, and it is a ruefully tender moment. The points that writer-director Ivan Calberg makes about relationships are sharp and insightful. While the ensemble of actors is all an asset to the production, which, at a crisp hour and half, doesn't outstay its welcome. It is a changed world that the old republican, Francois, has yet to come to terms with. It's not something a visit to a nudist beach will put to rights. A rush of social changes has made it a place where women are independent, where young men can pursue their artistic talents and where young women are free to choose their sexual orientation. His daughter Capucine (Josephine de Meaux) has yet another revelation for him. There is still much to come to terms with for this representative of the traditional, conservative classes. This terrific comedy replete with laugh-out-loud moments is a refreshing export from a country where levels of sexism is sometimes surprising, and where the attitudes to infidelity seem to differ from our own. And where the president could take a mistress or two and expect to have the details of his private life discreetly hidden from view. Riviera Revenge will endear itself to women especially. It's not that the title of this cheeky farce is misleading, it's just that the original French one works so much better. N'avoue Jamais, translating to "Never Admit to Anything" casts a different slant on things and is a better fit with the closing revelations. And, by the way, it did ever so well at the box office in France. They liked it too. Riviera Revenge (M, 94 minutes) 4 Stars A family lunch in the gardens of a fine house in the French countryside sets the stage in the opening scenes of this witty French comedy which focuses on a mature-age couple with decades of family relationship drama. On this occasion, a birthday has brought three generations of the family together. The two adult sons, along with a pregnant wife and four granddaughters, and an adult daughter are in attendance to celebrate with Annie (Sabine Azema) who is trim and attractive, and as calm and contained as her husband Francois (Andre Dussolier) is disagreeable. It doesn't take long for the fault lines in the family to be exposed. Francois, a retired general, is an uptight conservative who can't accept that one of his sons is a gentle marionettist, even though the other has followed in his footsteps. And he can't help making it plain that it's time a grandson arrived. The couple's children wonder what mum sees in him. Is he a great lay? When the guests have fled, Francois retreats to the attic to clear some clutter. He discovers a bundle of old letters, ardent letters to his wife revealing a passionate affair with a certain Boris (Thierry Lhermitte). Annie eventually admits to it. Francois was away, she immersed in small children, someone had found her desirable nonetheless, but she loves him still and it happened 40 years ago. Francois sleeps in the study. It is good to see these two lead actors, Dussolier and Azema, who complement each other well, dominate the frame. And interesting to discover that Azema appeared in many films by the late celebrated director, Alain Resnais, and became his wife. As Francois digs in deeper, feeling keenly that he has lost face, he becomes a figure of fun. An unbending Gaullist, a lifelong patriot who owns a bust of Napoleon, an upright man who declares time and time again that he has never cheated. We just about believe him. Revenge must be served, hot rather than cold, while Francois has his rival in his sights. Former army colleagues can't be convinced to help him take revenge so he and Annie will have to go to Nice where Boris lives, identify and confront him with the dishonour man-to-man. An aging former hippie who used to play guitar will surely be no match for a former military man. Boris is not, however, as expected. He cycles around town and wears a black belt at his martial arts classes. Still not content to let bygones be bygones, Francois is undeterred and the tone shifts to farce. But Francois' decision to reconnect with a former lover of his own introduces another tonal shift. He finds her, and it is a ruefully tender moment. The points that writer-director Ivan Calberg makes about relationships are sharp and insightful. While the ensemble of actors is all an asset to the production, which, at a crisp hour and half, doesn't outstay its welcome. It is a changed world that the old republican, Francois, has yet to come to terms with. It's not something a visit to a nudist beach will put to rights. A rush of social changes has made it a place where women are independent, where young men can pursue their artistic talents and where young women are free to choose their sexual orientation. His daughter Capucine (Josephine de Meaux) has yet another revelation for him. There is still much to come to terms with for this representative of the traditional, conservative classes. This terrific comedy replete with laugh-out-loud moments is a refreshing export from a country where levels of sexism is sometimes surprising, and where the attitudes to infidelity seem to differ from our own. And where the president could take a mistress or two and expect to have the details of his private life discreetly hidden from view. Riviera Revenge will endear itself to women especially. It's not that the title of this cheeky farce is misleading, it's just that the original French one works so much better. N'avoue Jamais, translating to "Never Admit to Anything" casts a different slant on things and is a better fit with the closing revelations. And, by the way, it did ever so well at the box office in France. They liked it too. Riviera Revenge (M, 94 minutes) 4 Stars A family lunch in the gardens of a fine house in the French countryside sets the stage in the opening scenes of this witty French comedy which focuses on a mature-age couple with decades of family relationship drama. On this occasion, a birthday has brought three generations of the family together. The two adult sons, along with a pregnant wife and four granddaughters, and an adult daughter are in attendance to celebrate with Annie (Sabine Azema) who is trim and attractive, and as calm and contained as her husband Francois (Andre Dussolier) is disagreeable. It doesn't take long for the fault lines in the family to be exposed. Francois, a retired general, is an uptight conservative who can't accept that one of his sons is a gentle marionettist, even though the other has followed in his footsteps. And he can't help making it plain that it's time a grandson arrived. The couple's children wonder what mum sees in him. Is he a great lay? When the guests have fled, Francois retreats to the attic to clear some clutter. He discovers a bundle of old letters, ardent letters to his wife revealing a passionate affair with a certain Boris (Thierry Lhermitte). Annie eventually admits to it. Francois was away, she immersed in small children, someone had found her desirable nonetheless, but she loves him still and it happened 40 years ago. Francois sleeps in the study. It is good to see these two lead actors, Dussolier and Azema, who complement each other well, dominate the frame. And interesting to discover that Azema appeared in many films by the late celebrated director, Alain Resnais, and became his wife. As Francois digs in deeper, feeling keenly that he has lost face, he becomes a figure of fun. An unbending Gaullist, a lifelong patriot who owns a bust of Napoleon, an upright man who declares time and time again that he has never cheated. We just about believe him. Revenge must be served, hot rather than cold, while Francois has his rival in his sights. Former army colleagues can't be convinced to help him take revenge so he and Annie will have to go to Nice where Boris lives, identify and confront him with the dishonour man-to-man. An aging former hippie who used to play guitar will surely be no match for a former military man. Boris is not, however, as expected. He cycles around town and wears a black belt at his martial arts classes. Still not content to let bygones be bygones, Francois is undeterred and the tone shifts to farce. But Francois' decision to reconnect with a former lover of his own introduces another tonal shift. He finds her, and it is a ruefully tender moment. The points that writer-director Ivan Calberg makes about relationships are sharp and insightful. While the ensemble of actors is all an asset to the production, which, at a crisp hour and half, doesn't outstay its welcome. It is a changed world that the old republican, Francois, has yet to come to terms with. It's not something a visit to a nudist beach will put to rights. A rush of social changes has made it a place where women are independent, where young men can pursue their artistic talents and where young women are free to choose their sexual orientation. His daughter Capucine (Josephine de Meaux) has yet another revelation for him. There is still much to come to terms with for this representative of the traditional, conservative classes. This terrific comedy replete with laugh-out-loud moments is a refreshing export from a country where levels of sexism is sometimes surprising, and where the attitudes to infidelity seem to differ from our own. And where the president could take a mistress or two and expect to have the details of his private life discreetly hidden from view. Riviera Revenge will endear itself to women especially. It's not that the title of this cheeky farce is misleading, it's just that the original French one works so much better. N'avoue Jamais, translating to "Never Admit to Anything" casts a different slant on things and is a better fit with the closing revelations. And, by the way, it did ever so well at the box office in France. They liked it too.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Beloved French veterans spice up this frothy love triangle
RIVIERA REVENGE ★★★½ M. 94 minutes. In cinemas Riviera Revenge is French cinema at its frothiest, with three of its most beloved veterans leading the dance. Sabine Azéma and André Dussollier are cast as Annie and Francois, a couple whose 50- year marriage is based on her willingness to put up with his prejudices. A retired general, he's prone to injecting military attitudes and routines into their family life, as we see during the opening scene at Annie's birthday lunch when he junks a chorus of Happy Birthday in favour of celebrating her with his own rewritten version of the La Marseillaise. His eldest son, Amaury (Gael Giraudeau), who has followed him into the army, cheerfully sings along, but Amaury's siblings, Adrien (Sebastien Chassagne) and Capucine (Joséphine De Meaux) can only hang their heads and look glum. Shortly afterwards, however, Francois' world comes crashing down around his own head with his discovery of a bundle of love letters revealing a fling that Annie had with one of their friends 35 years earlier. Writer-director Ivan Calbérac, who is also a playwright, came up with his script after reading a news report about a 92-year-old Sicilian who became Italy's oldest divorcee when he split with his wife of many years after a similar revelation. Calbérac decided that an adaptation of the story could be perfect for Azéma and Dussollier, who have played husband and wife on screen no less than 10 times. And as Boris, the third member of the love triangle, he settled on the suave Thierry Lhermitte, whose own long career has centred on his mastery of the comedy of manners. When confronted with the letters, Annie responds with a perfect Gallic shrug and says it all happened so long ago that she can barely remember it.
The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
Beloved French veterans spice up this frothy love triangle
RIVIERA REVENGE ★★★½ M. 94 minutes. In cinemas Riviera Revenge is French cinema at its frothiest, with three of its most beloved veterans leading the dance. Sabine Azéma and André Dussollier are cast as Annie and Francois, a couple whose 50- year marriage is based on her willingness to put up with his prejudices. A retired general, he's prone to injecting military attitudes and routines into their family life, as we see during the opening scene at Annie's birthday lunch when he junks a chorus of Happy Birthday in favour of celebrating her with his own rewritten version of the La Marseillaise. His eldest son, Amaury (Gael Giraudeau), who has followed him into the army, cheerfully sings along, but Amaury's siblings, Adrien (Sebastien Chassagne) and Capucine (Joséphine De Meaux) can only hang their heads and look glum. Shortly afterwards, however, Francois' world comes crashing down around his own head with his discovery of a bundle of love letters revealing a fling that Annie had with one of their friends 35 years earlier. Writer-director Ivan Calbérac, who is also a playwright, came up with his script after reading a news report about a 92-year-old Sicilian who became Italy's oldest divorcee when he split with his wife of many years after a similar revelation. Calbérac decided that an adaptation of the story could be perfect for Azéma and Dussollier, who have played husband and wife on screen no less than 10 times. And as Boris, the third member of the love triangle, he settled on the suave Thierry Lhermitte, whose own long career has centred on his mastery of the comedy of manners. When confronted with the letters, Annie responds with a perfect Gallic shrug and says it all happened so long ago that she can barely remember it.
