Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- breezy
- whimsical
- date night
- lazy weekend
What critics said
Critics generally found the French romantic comedy bright and watchable thanks to its cast and setting, but overly contrived, sexist, and increasingly plodding.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jean writes Emilie a love letter, but Emilie forwards it to Mady, creating the film's central chain of mistaken assumptions.
Emilie sustains the false belief that Jean is Mady's admirer to cheer her mother after her husband leaves.
Jean's letter is interpreted through Mady's expectations, while Emilie actively manages the courtship rather than simply receiving it.
The film's breezy presentation and bright French-town imagery frame its romantic misunderstandings as light, heightened entertainment.
Films like Beautiful Lies, and why
Priceless
shared french romantic comedy, mistaken identity, and playful emotional deception
Amélie
shared audrey tautou appeal, whimsical romance, and heightened comic matchmaking
Emma
shared literary romantic comedy structure, meddling matchmaking, and misunderstandings
The Valet
shared warm european romance, eccentric characters, and complicated courtship schemes
Movie Details
- Director
- Pierre Salvadori
- Release Date
- 2010-12-08
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (163)
Cast
- Audrey Tautou
- Sami Bouajila
- Nathalie Baye
- Stéphanie Lagarde
- Judith Chemla
- Daniel Duval
- Cécile Boland
- Didier Brice
- Yilin Yang
- Lan Qui
Common questions
- What is Beautiful Lies about?
- A well-meaning hairdresser turns a misdirected love letter into an elaborate romantic charade for her heartbroken mother.
- What is Beautiful Lies like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Beautiful Lies as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Beautiful Lies violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Beautiful Lies.
- What did critics think of Beautiful Lies?
- Critics generally found the French romantic comedy bright and watchable thanks to its cast and setting, but overly contrived, sexist, and increasingly plodding.
- Which films are like Beautiful Lies?
- Films with a similar feel include Priceless, Amélie, Emma, and The Valet.
- How long is Beautiful Lies?
- Beautiful Lies runs 105 minutes.
