The First Day of The Rest of Your Life

Rémi Bezançon's second feature is a variegated portrait of the Duval family, each of whom we follow for one day, spanning 12 chaotic years of their lives. Between farce, tragedy and stylistic verve, there is a universal charm uncharacteristic of such Gallic melodrama. It is preoccupied not with dysfunction, but with the ephemeral personal milestones of family life. Bezançon's mastery of story, five powerful performances from the ensemble cast and creatively subjective cinematography conspire to enfold the audience within the family, enlisting emotional investment to render miniature events majestic. In tackling the tapestry of a lifetime's experience, The First Day of the Rest of Your Life is stretched a little thin by its ambition (insight into individual characters is generally shallow), but this is a minor concern for a film which so touchingly evokes the power of memory and the binding love of family. Coupled with a rocking alternative soundtrack, rhythmic pace, and laugh-out-loud wit, this is accessible, energetic, feel-good fare.