★★★★

Louis Garrel's A Faithful Man is an oddball comedy-drama that is an ode to the French New Wave. The film opens with a man named Abel (played by Garrel) discovering something shocking about his girlfriend, Marianne (Laetitia Casta) that causes their relationship to dissolve. Too many specifics will ruin the hilarious surprises of this film, but fast forward years later and the pair are reunited, setting off a chain of events that causes the couple to come to understand one another better. Relying largely on the development of its characters and a unique storyline, the film is mostly a light, comic take on complicated relationships. I did find myself disliking Marianne and rooting more for Eve (Rose-Depp's character) instead, the younger sister of Abel's best friend who threatens to steal Abel's affections. Overall, the film was bouncy and entertaining, and is sure to keep the viewer engaged from beginning to end with just how exactly these characters will solve their problems.