Copacabana (2012)

82% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(240 ratings)

A middle-aged bohemian belatedly discovers the joys of capitalism in this comedy from French writer and director Marc Fitoussi. Babou (Isabelle Huppert) spent most of her twenties and thirties living a footloose lifestyle, wandering from place to place and never holding a job longer than she had to.… More A middle-aged bohemian belatedly discovers the joys of capitalism in this comedy from French writer and director Marc Fitoussi. Babou (Isabelle Huppert) spent most of her twenties and thirties living a footloose lifestyle, wandering from place to place and never holding a job longer than she had to. But while this way of living agreed with Babou, her daughter Esmeralda (Lolita Chammah) never much cared for it, and now that she's in her twenties and engaged to wed Justin (Joachim Lombard), a successful salesman, she'd prefer it if Babou could finally settle down and start looking after herself. Determined to do right by her daughter, Babou lands a position selling time-shares at a condominium complex in the coastal town of Ostend. Babou doesn't know the first thing about selling real estate, but she proves to be a quick study, soon landing customers on a par with rival saleswoman Irene (Chantal Banlier) and earning the respect of manager Lydie (Aure Atika). Babou also reveals she hasn't abandoned her enthusiasm for free love when she falls into a passionate but no-strings affair with Bart (Jurgen Delnaet), who works at the local shipyard. Copacabana was an official selection at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Marc Fitoussi
Written By: Marc Fitoussi
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 7, 2010 Wide
Studio: Mars Distribution

Critic Reviews

David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...entertaining yet far-from-engrossing...
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine
Copacabana proves that Isabelle Huppert can do anything, including starring in a trivial mother-daughter dramedy that's beneath her considerable talents.
Rory Meyer, Empire Magazine Australasia
With a Gallic twist, Copacabana is a quirky feel-good comedy for the kook in us all.
Jason Di Rosso, MovieTime, ABC Radio National
An emotionally intelligent film this, with a keen sense of rhythm and balance from writer director Marc Fitoussi, who draws his characters with affection but never sentimentality.
Peter Galvin, sbs.com.au
Shot in grim, flat tones that's more in keeping with the style of the so-called 'mumble-core' indie genre, Copacabana is actually very smart and very funny in a brittle kind of way.
Jim Schembri, The Age (Australia)
The film maintains an amiable and warm through line about Babou's desire to reconnect with her disapproving daughter, but the real joy here comes from watching (Isabelle) Huppert hustle.
David Stratton, At the Movies (Australia)
Isabelle Huppert creates an intriguing character in this film.
Alicia Malone, FILMINK (Australia)
Could have benefited from extra editing to lift the more leaden moments.
Alice Tynan, Concrete Playground
Fun, affirming and supremely joyful, Copacabana is a superb reminder that life is about the journey, not the destination.
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile
A pleasant enough interlude, Copacabana doesn't actually get us there ... to Copacabana or to 'there' as a film, even though everyone does a great job.
Thomas Caldwell, Cinema Autopsy
The lack of cynicism from the filmmakers and the lead character means that Copacabana ends up being an extremely charming and sweet film, pleasingly revealing yet another side to the chameleon-like Isabelle Huppert.

Read all 11 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Nicki M

One of the best female characters I have seen in a movie in a long time! I absolutely loved Isabelle Huppert here as the eccentric Babou. Lolita Chammah is also good as the daughter who is so embarrassed by her mother she has decided not to invite her to her wedding. (She is also… More
One of the best female characters I have seen in a movie in a long time! I absolutely loved Isabelle Huppert here as the eccentric Babou. Lolita Chammah is also good as the daughter who is so embarrassed by her mother she has decided not to invite her to her wedding. (She is also Isabelle Huppert's real life daughter, and they do look a little alike which made it more believable). I could not personally see what she was so embarrassed about - I thought Isabelle looked fantastic all through this, and as for her behaviour, she showed more decency than all the so-called "normal" people. I would be very happy if I wound up like that at her age! (What am I saying, I think I am on my way there now. LOL. There wasn't one outfit there that she wore that I wouldn't have worn!). Babou gets a job selling dodgy time share units to prove to her daughter that she can be responsible and a parent to be proud of, which brings about some interesting situations. The one flaw was that the ending felt a little rushed, but on the whole, this is a good movie about a mother and her daughter learning to deal with each other as adults rather than mother and daughter and to accept each others flaws.