The First Day of the Rest of Your Life

The First Day of the Rest of Your Life (Le premier jour du reste de ta vie) is a French film that tells the story of family over a period of around 15 years. There is the grandfather, the parents, their three children and the ups and downs of their lives - their matches, hatches and dispatches - in middle class suburban France.

Not a lot happens - there are no helicopter crashs, no car chases, no shootouts. What you have is a simple story, beautifully told and acted by a wonderful ensemble cast. Issues of aging, of father and son relationships, and matters of sex and love are all tackled. It mixes humour, there is a lovely funny scene around a driving test, with moments of real poignacy and it is not afraid to tackle death. Some have described the film as sentimental and overstylised - that I can see. Nonetheless, the film is a good example of French cinema and you leave the screening wondering why the UK can't make films like this.

Nominated for 9 Cesar awards (French equivalent of the Oscars and BAFTAs) it won three - all deserved. It has a very limited UK release - even in London it's only showing at 2 cinemas - but if you can find a screenings it's worth a look. The ending - with a delightful look to camera - is lovely.