Directed by Patrice Leconte

As the title suggests, Leconte is back in the familiar territory of his recent films, L'homme du train and Confidences trop intimes - the relationship between two disparate people who form an unlikely bond. Here we have Francois, a successful and rather icy antiques dealer who is challenged by his business partner to prove he has a real friend - a best friend.

The splendid Daniel Auteuil plays the superficially confident, not very likeable Francois, as he discovers that in fact outside of business contacts, he has no real relationships, and does not even understand how to get to know other people on a personal level. In contrast taxi driver Bruno (an engaging performance by Dany Boon) seems to be everyone's friend, happy to chat to all his clients and bringing a smile to everyone's face. Yet really he is not happy - his bonhomie covering intense shyness, still living within range of his parents, obsessed with facts but with no outlet for his cleverness, he is everyone's mate but no one's intimate.

It's clear where this is going from the outset, but it's a warm, funny journey, and great to see a big smile on Auteuil's lips (specially after the unremitting grimness of Cache). It also might lead the audience to a little uncomfortable introspection - who would you ring at 3 in the morning if you had a problem? My usual gripe with Leconte, an excessively sentimental ending where he can't resist leaving everyone happy, however unlikely, rears its ugly head again, but maybe by now I wouldn't have him any different.

See at Bradford Film Festival, 23 March 2007