La trilogie I: Un couple épatant

Un couple épatant is the lightest film from Belvaux’ ambitious trilogy. This romantic comedy (reminiscent of Doris Day with a touch of Rohmer) is fluent, colourful and filmed with surprising interventions in the montage. The protagonists have plenty of room to move. One scene that was filled with suspense in Cavale is turned into a farcical intermezzo here.
Cécile and Alain have been together for twenty years and look like the ideal couple. Cécile (Ornella Muti) is a teacher, Alain has an engineering bureau. On his birthday, Alain hears from his doctor and friend Georges that he has to have a minor operation. Probably nothing serious, but it’s better to get it seen to. Alain, a first class hypochondriac, immediately thinks the worst. He is convinced that he is dying and immediately dictates a will on his voice recorder. He doesn’t say anything to Cécile to avoid worrying her. However his behaviour makes her suspicious and she thinks he is having an affair so she hires a cop to shadow him. This cop, Pascal, falls for the charms of Cécile (in Cavale the same cop is ruthless and corrupt and in Après la vie he is a caring husband). Alain realises he is being shadowed and thinks in turn that Cécile has something to hide. He keeps having to change his will.