In this French comic drama Eliane lives in Paris with her husband, a very conventional kitchen salesman, their self centred daughter and her elderly mother who lives conveniently close by. It appears that Eliane has spent many years of her life being a dutiful wife, mother and daughter without really considering her own talents and ambitions. The closeness and suffocation of the Jewish family is uncomfortably well captured by director Cebula and whilst it is both amusing and repelling it is obvious that Eliane will need to fight hard to realise her newly awakened aspirations. Eliane has kept a family journal for many years and at a book signing she attends with friends she is inspired to try to submit this for publication. When she meets a charismatic young publisher her confidence increases and she starts to understand that it could actually be possible to realise her dreams. JI