In the middle of the French film (with the American Title) "Happenstance," a character stands outside an abandoned restaurant. A passer-by stops to tell her it's closed down. He tells her there is an interesting story about its closing, then peers at his watch and says he doesn't have time to tell it. This is a pity. Anything, even the story of a restaurant being closed down, would perhaps be more interesting that the divergent stories we are being told. A few scenes later, a man who speaks aloud in thought (via voiceover) looks at another character and says he looks bored. I thought, perhaps, he was peering out at me.

"Happenstance" is a supposedly clever (read: pretentious) little French film that covers numerous storylines, fluttering back and forth between them with characters, locations, and plot points often converging. This is not like "Chain of Desire" or "Slacker" where we follow one character for awhile and then his story merges with another before he is abandoned. No, the storylines here flop all around one and other like fish out of water, desperately gasping for breath. Nor is the film like "Sliding Doors," (and other films) where two separate storylines are played out depending on a choice a character makes. But interweaving storylines and choices are all what "Happenstance" is about.

The French title, "Le battement d'alies du papillon," refers to the idea (in chaos theory) that the beating of a butterflies wings on one side of the ocean might be enough force to cause a hurricane on the other side. That's what this film suggests, that every little choice we make causes a chain reaction of events that effects other people's lives and other situations. Tied into this idea is both fate and fortune. This is not an original idea. It's been done many times. And, sadly, not one single story idea here is worth our interest. They are all boring as hell. I won't even bore you with a brief synopsis.

If you want to see "Happenstance" because Audrey Tautou of "Amelie" is in it, don't bother. Not only is her character as complete schlub, but Tautou seems about as interested in playing her as we are in watching her. She pouts and sighs her way through the performance, not in a sexy or interesting way, seemingly waiting for a better script to arrive in the mail. A more winsome and likeable performance is given by Faudel (a popular singer abroad) as Younes, an immigrant restauranteur. But, alas, it is too much too late; By the time Faudel's storyline kicks in, we've almost forgotten that his character was in the first scene, setting up the film's obvious plot. And this far into the boredom, it's hard to get excited about the film again. He is cute to look at though.

"Happenstance" drags its way through an hour and 45 minutes of celluloid trying to be clever, sexy and oh-so charming. It fails on almost every level.

Note:

Written and directed by Laurent Firode.

Report Card Script: F Acting: B- Cinematography\Lighting: B+ Special Effects\Make Up: A Music: C Final Grade: F

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