‘Venus Beauty’: Love, innocence and passion

With 'Venus Beauty Institute' , (Venus Beaute), French director Tonie Marshall takes us into this world of beauty and self image and into the lives of four strong, smart women who make their living practising beauty at a Parisian spa. The film which swept all of year 2000 major Cesar Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Young Actress (Audrey Tautou) will be screened at 3 pm on March 6 and at 6.30 pm on March 7 at Alliance Francaise.

Starring Nathalie Baye, Bulle Ogier, Samuel Le Bihan and Audrey Tautou in the lead roles this romantic comedy was released in 2000. Venus Beauty Institute is run by Nadine, and Angèle's, co-workers include Samantha, who has a string of dates and gives Angèle their descriptions, and Marie, the youngest who is still learning the ropes.

Angèle is a 40 year old beautician who works at the title establishment in Paris. She has been an orphan from the age of eight, her father having killed her mother for suspected infidelity, and then killed himself when her infidelity was proved untrue.

She picks up men to have short sex flings, but no longer believes in love, having hurt her former boyfriend, Jacques, who she occasionally contacts out of loneliness but is never available at the same time as her. An unkempt younger man, Antoine, sees her at the train station as she is being dumped by her latest fling, and falls in love with her. He stands outside the beauty shop to watch for her, and when he finally meets her he declares his love for her, but she does not immediately return his feelings.

Also, Antoine reveals that despite his feelings for her, he is engaged, but feels he is drifting away from her. However, despite her refusal to believe in love, she gradually falls for him.