''Les Sœurs Soleil'' is a 1997 French

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Jeannot Szwarc Jeannot Szwarc (21 November 1937 – 14 January 2025) was a French director known for his work in American film and television. His film credits included '' Jaws 2'', ''Somewhere in Time'', ''Supergirl'' and '' Santa Claus: The Movie''. Szwarc ...

, co-written by

Marie-Anne Chazel Marie-Anne France Jacqueline Chazel (born 19 September 1951) is a French actress, screenwriter and director, who has been active in both film and television since 1974. Biography Chazel was born to actress Louba Guertchikoff (birth name Lou ...

who stars with

Clémentine Célarié Clémentine Célarié (born 12 October 1957) is a French actress, writer, director and singer.

and

Thierry Lhermitte Thierry Lhermitte (; born 24 November 1952) is a French actor, director, writer and producer, best known for his comedic roles. He was a founder of the comedy troupe ''Le Splendid'' in the 1970s, along with, among others, Christian Clavier, Géra ...

. It tells the story of a privileged woman who is transformed by encountering the very different world of popular music

Plot

Bénédicte lives with her husband Brice and schoolgirl daughter Clémence in the grand house outside Paris that she has inherited from her father and Brice runs the business she has inherited from her father. Classically trained, she is a keen member of the local church and is rehearsing a pop opera she has composed called “Noah's Ark”, in which the children and their mothers sing and dance. Clémence wins two tickets to the recording of a music video by her idol, the flamboyant diva Gloria Soleil, and both she and her mother are persuaded to get into costume and join the cast of what turns out to be a raunchy production. At the local Lions club, where Brice had hoped to be next year's president, the video is shown by mistake and people recognise Bénédicte. When Bénédicte storms round to Gloria's address to demand withdrawal of the video, she finds her being harassed by bailiffs and is persuaded to let her hide in Bénédicte's house. Gloria goes to the airport to meet an Australian band she is going to work with, who also camp out in Bénédicte's house, leaving her when they eventually go a large quantity of marijuana and their pet kangaroo. After consuming far too much of the hash he is totally unused to, Brice is seduced at work by his attractive secretary and the entwined couple are spotted by Clémence when she drops in after school. Clémence is sent off to a holiday camp and, after further misunderstandings, Bénédicte leaves Brice to join Gloria on an eventful tour that opens her eyes to other ways of life. In London, a percipient producer realises that she and Gloria could be two opposing halves of a commercial whole and a new act – the Soleil Sisters – is born. He also sees potential in “Noah's Ark” which, with professional polish added, proves a hit in its very different market. Bénédicte reconciles with a contrite Brice, who is rolling in money after selling their house at an exorbitant price to Japanese investors.

Cast

as Bénédicte D'Hachicourt *

as Brice D'Hachicourt *

Clémentine Célarié Clémentine Célarié (born 12 October 1957) is a French actress, writer, director and singer.

as Gloria Soleil / Françoise Tricot * Didier Bénureau as L'Abbé Gervais *

Bernard Farcy Bernard Farcy (; born 17 March 1949) is a French actor who has starred in over 70 plays, television series and films. He is best known for his role as Commissaire Gérard Gibert in Luc Besson's action-comedy franchise ''Taxi'', as well as his app ...

as Norbert *

Isabelle Carré Isabelle Carré (born 28 May 1971) is a French actress. She has appeared in more than 70 films since 1989. She won a César Award for Best Actress for her role in '' Se souvenir des belles choses'' (2001), and has been nominated a further six ti ...

as Murielle Musart * Patrick Mazet as Maxo *

Matthew Marsden Matthew Marsden is an English and American actor, producer, singer and former model. He has appeared in films such as '' Black Hawk Down'', ''Helen of Troy'', '' Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid'', '' Tamara'', '' Resident Evil: Extincti ...

as Lawrence * Erick Desmarestz as Gilles Jutard *

Adrian Lester Adrian Anthony Lester (born Anthony Harvey on 14 August 1968) is a British actor. He is the recipient of a Laurence Olivier Award, an Evening Standard Theatre Award and a Critics' Circle Theatre Award for his work on the London stage, an ...

as Isaac Nelson *

Annie Grégorio Annie Grégorio (born 4 April 1957) is a French film and theatrical actress. Theater Filmography References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gregorio, Annie French film actresses 20th-century French actresses 21st-century French actre ...

as Jackie *

Christian Clavier Christian Jean-Marie Clavier (; born 6 May 1952) is a French actor, screenwriter, film producer and director. A co-founder of Le Splendid in the 1970s, a Parisian café-théâtre company which soon garnered success, he became widely popular aft ...

as a Spectator *

Jean Reno Juan Moreno y Herrera-Jiménez (born 30 July 1948), commonly known as Jean Reno (), is a French-Spanish actor. He established himself as a Leading actor, leading man of French cinema through his collaborations with director Luc Besson, and has w ...

as a Spectator

Production

The movie was filmed in

London, England London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

and

Paris, France Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

Reception

The film opened on 330 screens in France and grossed $813,804 placing fifth at the French box office.

References

External links

* 1997 films 1997 comedy films Films directed by Jeannot Szwarc French comedy films 1990s French films Gaumont (company) films 1990s French-language films French-language comedy films {{1990s-comedy-film-stub