User reviews

Les Parfums (2019) is a charming French dramedy that follows the intriguing world of Anne Walberg (Emmanuelle Devos), a talented but prickly perfumer, and her unlikely bond with her troubled driver, Guillaume Favre (Grégory Montel). Director Grégory Magne skillfully tells a story full of humor, intelligence, and subtle character growth.

Devos shines as the moody Anne, who has lost her reputation in the perfume business because of her hard-to-please attitude. Montel, as Guillaume, plays the role of a single dad trying to reconnect with his distant daughter. Together, they become an odd couple, helping each other to restore Anne's career and Guillaume's family life.

The cinematography is gorgeous, showing the scenic countryside of France and the intricate craft of perfume making. The film's music also enhances the story's emotional richness and the characters' personal transformation.

Les Parfums (2019) is not only a revealing look into the perfume industry but also a touching tale of two imperfect individuals finding comfort and healing in each other's presence. While the film's pace may seem slow at times, it allows for a deeper appreciation of the characters and their individual journeys.

Overall, Les Parfums (2019) is a well-made movie that will enchant audiences with its witty humor, captivating plot, and the irresistible chemistry between Devos and Montel. It's a sensory experience that will stay with you long after the movie ends.

The story of a friendship between a selfish fragrance designer who is one of the best in her field, and her chauffeur who needs to cling to his job so that he can live with his daughter. There are no surprises or twists in the film, and everything falls into place where you expect it to. Even so, the chemistry between the two lead actors is so great that these cliches seem acceptable. A refreshing French comedy with a few laughs.

A few scenes are surprisingly suddenly cut, leaving spectators hungry and a bit angry, wanting to know what could have happened and often could have been very funny. Maybe the director, and script writer himself, suffered from a few minutes of lack of inspiration. Too bad. The movie is saved by the actors, especially Emmanuelle Devos, perfect, very realistic and true-to-life in the role of the « nose ».

This is a good little independent French film that has humor and heart. It's a story for adults, but without sex, thought provoking, and has both humor and sadness. The two main actors are wonderfully understated here and believable as we watch their friendship emerge. I was reminded a little bit of the early seasons of BONES.

Perhaps it's me as an American viewer who doesn't get some of the choices made in structuring the film. Some scenes are cut seemingly short, we never know how she solved the "handbag smell" or stinky factory problem. Likewise, we don't see how she begins to create perfumes again. There is often some wonderful tension in scenes, tension that doesn't fully play out to dramatic effect. It made me wonder what else we missed from these capable actors? But perhaps this is the French way and I'm just used to American dramatics, overacting, and having many more details given for "the swelling of a scene?"

I also subtracted a couple of stars because while this is an enjoyable quiet type of film, the ending did seem highly unlikely considering he was a chauffeur and didn't have her chemistry background (at least she appeared to have a chemistry education). Perhaps had we seen more of them beginning to work together as a team to solve a customer problem together, this wouldn't have seemed such fairy tale type ending. Also, the scene with her doctor was just very odd - it played more like he was going to be a potential romantic interest or something, which felt off and didn't quite mesh with where the story was at at that moment. Nice film, but could've been edited better.

This is what I love about so many French films. They take a very simple premise and tell you a story. Most often with a touch of heart, spirit, humanity.

A divorced father adores his 10 year old and faces losing his bit of custody if he doesn't get a bigger apartment so she can have her own proper room and he must also have a good job to prove that he can care properly for her.

Close to losing his license for speeding fines, his job being a chauffeur, he is precariously close to becoming someone about to fall between the cracks.

But in driving for a new client, an entire world-shift is about to happen.

Enjoyable and easy, heartwarming and paced, great for a feelgood watch.

In French with subtitles.

Lovely film about a famous French "nose" (Emmanuelle Devos) who can discern a huge variety of smells, making her perfect in the perfume industry.

She hires a driver, Guillaume (Gregory Montel) who is trying to improve his living situation so he can have his young daughter with him. He is desperate to keep his job, but Anne's demands rub him the wrong way. However, he is able to stand up to her, which not many do. The two develop a close bond.

When she loses her sense of smell, Guillaume is there for her during her struggle to regain it.

Very sweet film with excellent performances.

No violence, no sex, tenderness, humour, grace, sensitivity The 2 main actors are great as well as some some minor ones The landscapes are nice too I laughed, I almost cried, it's simpl delicious Rush to watch it

Great chance squandered. Intriguing premise, good actors, but like so many French films dissolved into yawn-provoking and meandering storyline, irrelevant sidetracks, undeveloped dramatic situations. When will the French learn to actually tell a STORY??

A very interesting film because it treats in a unique way the creation of a soul connection between the 2 main characters, the perfumer and the driver. I found out totally new and unusual things for a movie about the world of smells. A human film, full of emotions, feelings, a film in which nothing false, nothing exaggerated intervenes. The actors play excellently and the action is very well developed throughout the film so that you don't get bored for a moment

The French make movies to try and show how much more clever they feel they are when compared to every other being on the globe. This movies is no different to any other French production. The dialog is silly, and is solely an attempt to try and show their knowledge of philosophy, and the finer things in life.

The plot is too silly for words and eventually loses its way and meanders all over the place, before becoming a total "snooze fest"! It's got to always end with a non-committal ending that's supposed to keep the audience guessing and reflect on the "cleverness" of it all. If only they would just learn how to tell a story in a logical and ordered manner, it would stop a lot of this "ordure" from streaming out into cyberspace!

A very long time ago I watched "Driving Miss Daisy" (1989). There are some similarities between that movie and "Perfumes". Not many, but some. Ms Daisy and Anne Walberg are both bossy and yes, it takes a while for them to connect with new people.

Annes driver Guillaume Favre is a divorced man. He has a daughter that he wants to have shared custody of. In other words, he really needs his job. Guillaume isn´t afraid to speak his mind. He doesn´t put up with everything that Anne does or says. But I also think that Anne and Guillaume develop themselves as humans together.

I missed more info about Guillaumes ex-wife. Why did their marriage end? And why is Anne Walberg still single? But all in all I do recommend this movie. I liked it and, who knows, you might like it too.

Properly done ... image and sound... but so slow that we loose interest in the characters, as for the story , difficult to find any.

Emmanuelle Devos holds the movie, still the other characters have no credibility.

How can you make such a dull movie?

The image is soft and beautiful, as the choice of the locations.

Still I didn't believe in the story , the secondary characters... Sorry , I don't know the director but I wonder how he was able to find a producer, The soundtrack is almost too good as it is the only thing I will remember .

.......... No spoiler as there is no story, nothing... I can't even find words to describe such a non movie.

The actress is very beautiful.

The cinematography of France is beautiful.

Great story about a woman who creates fragrances.

The movie is more a drama/comedy.

Very well made movie and very entertaining.

The situations are all very believable.

Perfumes is a delightful touching comedy.

I didn't realise that some people work is all about knowing all the smells, all the aromas so they can create perfumes and scents.

Now I know why when opening a bottle of shampoo for example , the smell alone can make you buy it, just like that, regardless whether the shampoo cleans well or not !

Haha 😂 What makes this comedy charming is the man who is a loser but tries to be a good dad despite being down in his luck.

This is until he meets the woman who is the expert in smell.

An unlikely friendship develops between them and from that they both grow to become better persons.

Very enjoyable movie, inded !