Vilaine (2008)

Directors:

Jean-Patrick Benes (co-director)
Allan Mauduit (co-director)

Writers:

Jean-Patrick Benes
Allan Mauduit (writer)

Release Date:

12 November 2008 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

They call her ugly. She's gonna act ugly.

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title | Périgord

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Marilou Berry	...	Mélanie Lupin
Frédérique Bel	...	Aurore Cahier
Pierre-François Martin-Laval	...	Martinez
Joséphine de Meaux	...	Blandine
Thomas N'Gijol	...	Innocent Drogba (as Thomas Ngijol)
Chantal Lauby	...	La mère de Mélanie
Alice Pol	...	Jessica
Gil Alma	...	Jonathan
Liliane Rovère	...	Grand-mère Mélanie
Jean-Claude Dreyfus	...	Narrateur (voice)
Charles Meurisse	...	Aymeric
Eric Laugérias	...	Le policier 'éléphant'
Théo Ponce-Ludier	...	Le gamin aux fleurs
Léa Pelletant	...	La mère de Blandine
Isabelle Mazin	...	Madame Lepinsec
Alexandre Trijoulet	...	Le prêtre au mariage
Chantal Ravalec	...	Mademoiselle Stanpinski
Stéphane Blancafort	...	Flic 'De Niro' aéroport
Eric Moncoucut	...	Flic gentil aéroport
Juliette Galoisy	...	Journaliste
Frédéric Bouchet	...	Le représentant
Marie Bach	...	Delphine
Michel Théboeuf	...	Petit vieux hurlant
Patrick-Edouard Sus	...	Le médecin
Emilie Caillon	...	Mère de Mélanie jeune
Flavien Dauvergne	...	Le livreur
Joël Pyrene	...	Client café Martinez
Jeff Bigot	...	Client café Martinez
Jérôme Normand	...	Client café Martinez
Pénélope Puymirat	...	Cliente café Martinez
Claudia Tagbo	...	Maman à l'aéroport
Melvina Adegbindin	...	Petite fille aéroport
Dylan Sadikou	...	Petit garçon aéroport
Marine Pointeau	...	Mélanie 8 ans
Océane Dufreix	...	Mélanie 13 ans
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Patrice Laffont	...	Himself - En personne (uncredited)
Julien Lepers	...	Himself - En personne (uncredited)
Bernard Pivot	...	Himself - En personne (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Jean-Patrick Benes		(co-director)
Allan Mauduit		(co-director)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jean-Patrick Benes
Allan Mauduit		writer

Produced by
Antoine Gandaubert	....	associate producer
Fabrice Goldstein	....	producer
Antoine Rein	....	producer

Original Music by
Christophe Julien

Cinematography by
Régis Blondeau

Film Editing by
Antoine Vareille

Casting by
Constance Demontoy
Richard Rousseau

Production Design by
Jean-Marc Tran Tan Ba

Costume Design by
Pierre Canitrot

Makeup Department
Yves Giorgi	....	key hair stylist
Hue Lan Van Duc	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Benjamin Behaeghel	....	assistant unit manager
Aurélia Bono	....	assistant unit manager
Marianne Germain	....	production manager
Christophe Grandière	....	unit production manager
Muriel Monnard	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Amandine Escoffier	....	second assistant director
Mathieu Vaillant	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Emmanuel Augeard	....	supervising sound editor
Carl Goetgheluck	....	sound re-recording mixer
François Groult	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stéphane Le Dall	....	boom operator
Nicolas Waschkowski	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Roxane Fechner	....	visual effects supervisor
Carine Poussou	....	visual effects coordinator
Aurélie Villard	....	digital artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Marie Decourt	....	first assistant camera
Bastien Dessolas	....	lighting technician
Thibault Grabherr	....	poster photographer
Vanessa Guez	....	second assistant camera

Editorial Department
Cédric Coussy	....	additional editor
Raphaëlle Dufosset	....	colorist assistant
Marjolaine Mispelaere	....	colorist

Music Department
Bruno Mercere	....	music recording mixer

Other crew
Luc Augereau	....	production accountant: Eclair Lab
Sandrine Bourgoin	....	script supervisor
Jérôme Bénadiner	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Karé Productions
• SND (co-production)
• M6 Films (co-production)
• M6 (participation)
• TPS Star (participation)
• CinéCinéma (participation)
• Région Aquitaine (support)
• Département de la Dordogne (support)

Distributors

• Impacto Cine (2011) (Argentina) (all media)
• Melimedias (2008) (non-USA) (DVD)
• Melimedias (2008) (non-USA) (video)
• SND Groupe M6 (2008) (worldwide) (all media)
• SND (2008) (France) (all media)
• Vendetta Films (2009) (Australia) (all media)
• Vendetta Films (2009) (New Zealand) (all media)

Also Known As:

"Ugly Melanie" - Europe (English title) (festival title), International (English title) (imdb display title)
"Kako koritsi" - Greece (festival title)
"Melany la fea: La venganza" - Argentina (imdb display title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

France:U | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Australia:M | Argentina:13

Company:

Karé Productions

Movie Connections:

Features "Des chiffres et des lettres" (1972)

Soundtrack:

Lohengrin Opera Bridal Chorus

Darn good farcical comedy not for the faint of heart. "Amelie" turns sour :)!

Some films are born ordinary, others base their strength in the unusual. Vilaine is of the 2nd kind as you must have guessed.

Mélanie Lupin is the perfect actress for this, so much she seems to be born for the role. She's not that ugly, but the way she walks, talks and acts is what makes she darn... unpleasant. And that is enough for making her evil... in a very funny way.

Beautifully ugly Frédérique Bel, from "Petits meutres en famille", "Drôle de Noël!" and others, is here again a hateful dumb leggy blonde. Blandine is even better, with her shrill voice and the most kitsch of museums as her legacy. And Jessica, my God. The dumbest being around, vulgar, and pretty nice, an explosive combination :)! If you are familiar with French TV, it's particularly funny to see her participate in the popular TV questions programs like "Des chiffres et des lettres", with the real life conductors being put off by her utter stupidity. Jonathan (the hunk), Aymeric (the coveted eligible bachelor), Martinez! as the crass stingy boss who is really just a sorry chap. Melanie's mother and grandma are also great. My favourite scene is probably Blandine's nightmare, with the pensioners as the "Night of the living dead", a good metaphor of the sorry state of old people, even in advanced wealthy democracies. Same goes for ugly people.

Like on most well told stories, nothing is in vain. Innocent Drogba has no legal residence and can't read? Bear that in mind. An elephant ran away on Saint Valentine? It will be important later, believe it or not :). Creativity abounds in this film, like few others.

Music is extremely well chosen, it shows subtle knowledge and a great sense of humour.

Thanks to an IMDb reviewer I learn that Berry is a daughter of a well known actress, and it's no wonder. Don't miss the end credits, during the credits she shows she's really capable of doing ANYTHING funny :)!

Not for everybody, but don't miss this odd comedy!