Director Ivan Calbéra, fresh from his success with The Tasting (AF FFF23), returns with a film that the kind of comedic verve that can only come from years of observing the absurdities of marriage.
At the heart of the caper is retired French general François, played with charm by André Dussollier (Everything Went Fine). After a half-century of wedded bliss, in his opinion anyway, François stumbles upon a set of love letters while rummaging through the attic. These letters, yellowed with time, reveal an affair his wife Annie (Sabine Azéma) had four decades ago. It’s a discovery that shakes the very foundation of François’s once-certain world.
This is where the film’s truly begins to shine. Rather than giving us a dour meditation on betrayal, Calbéra serves up a playful balancing act between reflection and comedy. François’s dilemma—should he let sleeping dogs lie or hunt down the man who nearly ruined his life? It gets just the right amount of classic French farcical humour, where we see him don his old general’s mindset, and embark on a mission for revenge.
In lesser hands, a story like this could be overdone. But Riviera Revenge knows exactly what it wants to be: a comedy with heart, anchored by two veterans of French cinema who know how to tease out every subtle nuance of love, regret, and personal pride.
Screening in the French Film Festival 2025
Directed and Written by Ivan Calbérac
Writers Romain Choay and Maxime Govare
Cinematography by Philippe Guilbert
Music by Laurent Aknin
Editing by Reynald Bertrand
Produced by Antoine Pezet, Jérôme Corcos, Nicolas Mauvernay
Production by Nac Films, Mizar Films, Wild Bunch Production, France 3 Cinéma
Starring André Dussollier, Sabine Azéma, Thierry Lhermitte, Sébastien Chassagne and Joséphine De Meaux
Dussollier gives François a wry dignity—he’s a man accustomed to command, but also just old enough to realise that revenge might be more complicated than expected. Meanwhile, Sabine Azéma infuses Annie with warmth and a touch of sly mischief. Her secrets are out, and she must grapple with a husband who’s suddenly less the genial retiree and more the cunning strategist on a private vendetta.
The film’s setting on the Côte d’Azur is more than just a stunning backdrop. Calbéra uses the sweeping vistas, beaches, and glittering marinas to enhance both the comedy and the emotional stakes. One moment, François is gazing out at the blue horizon, contemplating the weight of Annie’s past transgressions. The next, he’s weaving through a bustling market, bribing fishermen for a lead on this mystery man from so long ago. That tension between paradise and personal turmoil gives Riviera Revenge its energy—there’s a sense that, for all the heartbreak, life here sparkles with possibility.
Once François decides he’s going to find Annie’s former lover, it’s as if we’ve stepped into a classic French farce—complete with whispered phone calls, comedic disguises, and a sidekick or two who pop up at just the right, or wrong, moment. The pacing never sags, propelled by an equally mischievous score that flits between playful strings and romantic crescendos.
Yet beneath the humour lies a heartfelt meditation on the nature of marriage. After five decades together, can a single discovery undo it all? Or, conversely, does a relationship that’s weathered so many storms become unshakeable, no matter what secrets come to light? The film doesn’t shy away from these questions. Instead, it answers them with scenes that veer from hilarious (François trying to decode Annie’s long-ago love language) to tender (the couple sharing a quiet dance in their living room). That blend of froth and feeling is what elevates Riviera Revenge above the standard rom-com.
Calbéra’s touch is everywhere, from the whimsical framing of each shot to the lovingly crafted dialogue that never forgets to be playful. He understands that comedy and heartbreak are often close cousins, and he gives his cast the freedom to explore the full emotional range. There are a few comedic bits that lean toward slapstick, and a couple of revelations that stretch plausibility—but the sheer joie de vivre on display more than compensates for the occasional misstep.
François’s quest may seem absurd, but it’s also strangely relatable. Who hasn’t wondered about the roads not taken, the grudges left to simmer, or the mistakes that haunt us from our younger days? The film suggests that while revenge can be sweet, it may also be bittersweet—especially if the cost is losing the person who’s been by your side through half a century of life.
Clocking in at a breezy runtime, Riviera Revenge doesn’t overstay its welcome. Fuelled by a captivating duo who still have plenty of on-screen chemistry, the emotional undercurrents are surprisingly profound, and the scenery alone is enough to make you dream of booking the next flight to Nice.
