La Fille de Monaco (The Girl from Monaco) (2007)

48% of critics liked it
(52 reviews)
31% of users liked it
(7,821 ratings)

A bodyguard hired to look after a lawyer ends up protecting the man from himself in this breezy comedy from France. Bertrand Beauvois (Fabrice Luchini) is a successful fiftysomething attorney who's hired to represent Edith Lasalle (Stéphane Audran), who has been charged with killing a man with ties… More A bodyguard hired to look after a lawyer ends up protecting the man from himself in this breezy comedy from France. Bertrand Beauvois (Fabrice Luchini) is a successful fiftysomething attorney who's hired to represent Edith Lasalle (Stéphane Audran), who has been charged with killing a man with ties to the Russian mafia. Edith's adult son, Louis (Gilles Cohen), has been warned that Russian strong-arm men may try to silence his mother and her legal team, so he hires a private security team to protect them and Bertrand finds he's shadowed at all times by stone-faced Christophe Abadi (Roschdy Zem). Bertrand doesn't see the need for Christophe's presence, but when the lawyer has trouble brushing off a former girlfriend he'd rather not see, the bodyguard turns out to be a valuable ally. Bertrand and Christophe strike up a friendship, as the former is increasingly impressed with the latter's street smarts and good judgment, but when Audrey Varela (Louise Bourgoin), a gorgeous woman nearly half Bertrand's age, begins throwing herself at him, Christophe has a hard time convincing his client that something is clearly not right. La Fille de Monaco (aka The Girl From Monaco) received its North American premiere at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Anne Fontaine
Written By: Anne Fontaine, Benoît Graffin
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 3, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Dec 15, 2009
Studio: Magnolia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Jennie Punter, Globe and Mail
The Girl from Monaco is a tease.
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
An uncommonly shrewd and funny farce.
Bernard Besserglik, Hollywood Reporter
Luchini's trademark mannerisms, which in some films can be irritating, are here perfectly judged and appropriate. Zem confirms his growing stature as a boxoffice attraction, [and] Bourgoin does well to keep her character from veering into caricature.
Derek Elley, Variety
A generally entertaining piece of fluff that's kept afloat by a weathered cast including Fabrice Luchini and Roschdy Zem.
Bruce Demara, Toronto Star
As a solid thriller, La fille de Monaco feels like it's missed the mark.
Ben Mankiewicz, At the Movies
It was a perfect blend of satire and tension.
Kelly Vance, East Bay Express
Darker directions, off the beaten path.
Kam Williams, Sly Fox
The postman may always ring twice, but a bodyguard doesn't even have to bother to knock.
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
When, far too late in the day for us to care, they enter Hitchcock territory, the plot shift gives you the cinematic equivalent of whiplash and leaves you holding your head, wondering how on earth it happened and really rather wishing it hadn't.
Emily S. Mendel, culturevulture.net
... an engaging and stylish film.
Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly
Fontaine can't seem to decide whether she's making a dry sex farce or a slow-burn thriller, and the movie never really commits to either.
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central
If you think I'm being tasteless, you should see the movie.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
C'est dommage.
Dan Fainaru, Screen International
Luchini, who could read the phone directory and make it sound exciting, has completely nailed the soft-skinned, flabby, middle-aged lawyer who hides his hang-ups behind a barrage of verbiage.
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
Despite Bourgoin's dazzling presence, it's the hollow-eyed Luchini who quietly takes over the film.
Rob Lowman, Los Angeles Daily News
The film doesn't add up to much in the end, but if you like leggy, flirty blondes, dark, brooding tough-guy bodyguards and fussy middle-aged lawyers, it's entertaining.
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
The postman may always ring twice, but a bodyguard doesn't even have to bother to knock.
Peter Canavese, Palo Alto Weekly
The French comedy-drama The Girl from Monaco demonstrates how an excess of liberté and fraternité can be hazardous to the health, especially where there is an absence of egalité.

Read all 18 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

Jim H

A high-profile lawyer falls for a sprightly weather girl against the advice of his world-weary bodyguard. Essentially a dramedy about the perilous line between love and sexual obsession, this film is interesting when it's not trying to be funny and funny in all the right ways.… More
A high-profile lawyer falls for a sprightly weather girl against the advice of his world-weary bodyguard. Essentially a dramedy about the perilous line between love and sexual obsession, this film is interesting when it's not trying to be funny and funny in all the right ways. Professional critics have complained about the thriller element to this film, but though it eventually winds its way to a thriller-esque conclusion, by classifying it as a dramedy, a drama with comic elements, I found things to like. After all, the idea of a film with all the trappings of a romantic comedy but which takes its themes seriously and probably surprised even the filmmakers is refreshing in the genre. Louise Bourgoin as the mercurial sex kitten who seduces the main character is beautiful, and her acting talents make her character's weather-like changes believable. Fabrice Luchini is also quite good; I think my favorite moment is his nearly catatonic dive into the pool. Overall, I found the mixed elements of <i>The Girl from Monaco</i> satisfying and entertaining.
Walter M

In "The Girl from Monaco," Bertrand(Fabrice Luchini) is a top criminal lawyer in Monaco to defend Edith(Stephane Audran) on charges of killing her lover. He was hired by her son Louis(Gilles Cohen) in order to stop his mother from defending herself in court, having already… More
In "The Girl from Monaco," Bertrand(Fabrice Luchini) is a top criminal lawyer in Monaco to defend Edith(Stephane Audran) on charges of killing her lover. He was hired by her son Louis(Gilles Cohen) in order to stop his mother from defending herself in court, having already dismissed several lawyers. Against the possibility of retaliation by the victim's family, he has also gone to the trouble of hiring Christophe(Roschdy Zem), a bodyguard, to protect Bertrand which he thinks is foolish. That is until Christophe helps in getting rid of Helene(Jeanne Balibar), a particularly troublesome lover. After that, the two men bond but Christophe can do nothing to protect Bertrand from the charms of Audrey(Louise Bourgoin), the local weather girl. "The Girl from Monaco" is a sexy legal drama about control. Both Bertrand and Christophe need it to be successful in their professions. Bertrand needs control over every word in the courtroom and when he seduces women. Christophe needs it over the environment to protect his clients and emotions. What they also have in common is a lack of serious involvement with women(nothing wrong with this, as long as nobody gets hurt) which is why they are so concerned about their lack of control over Audrey who is sex personified and a force of nature, if you will. She is not crazy, nor is Helene, just passionate.
Daisy M

Le Fille de Monaco was a mix of romantic comedy together with drama. Unfortunately, the end result was bad and there was no way to connect with the characters. Fabrice Luchini played Bertrand. an elite lawyer coming to Monaco to work a high profile case. He was assigned a bodyguard,… More
Le Fille de Monaco was a mix of romantic comedy together with drama. Unfortunately, the end result was bad and there was no way to connect with the characters. Fabrice Luchini played Bertrand. an elite lawyer coming to Monaco to work a high profile case. He was assigned a bodyguard, Christophe, with whom he developed a great friendship. Then appeared Audrey, a weather forecast girl, who was way younger than Bertrand and she turned his life upside down. Luchini and Zem had good chemistry on screen and the bound they formed was interesting but never fully realized.Then the movie suddenly made an unexpected twist, which was not bad but due to lack of character development, it was difficult to believe the turns of events experienced here.