A little bit Cyrano de Bergerac, a little bit Return of Martin Guerre, THE RETURN OF THE HERO may well be the funniest film at this year’s Alliance Française French Film Festival .

Beginning in Burgundy in 1809, the dashing Captain Neuville proposes to the impressionable Pauline. Elisabeth, Pauline’s older sister is not impressed with the smarmy soldier and is relieved when he is despatched to active service.

Pauline, however, is distraught, pining her way to a pine box. In an effort to bring her sister back from the brink of broken heartedness, Elisabeth determines to write fake love letters and pass them off as coming from Pauline’s beloved.

It appears to have the desired effect, to the point that the perked up Pauline commences a protracted correspondence which keeps the elder sister pen occupied for years.

Fast forward to 1812, and like the booming canon fire of Tchaikovsky’s Overture, Neuville makes a rambunctious return, turning Elisabeth’s subterfuge topsy turvy.

Part French farce, part costume comedy, all great fun, THE RETURN OF THE HERO is a triumph of romantic rib tickling thanks largely to its two lead players, Jean Dujardin as Neuville and Melanie Laurent as Elisabeth.

Though his sidearm may be a sabre, Dujardin employs rapier wit and timing, in a characterisation that conjures Coward’s lyrics – He melts my foolish heart in every single scene, although I’m quite aware that here and there are traces of the cad about the boy.

Laurent is luscious as the plucky, peeved Elisabeth, more than a match for the opportunist suitor.

Apart from the allusions to Cyrano and Martin Guerre, the second act of THE RETURN OF THE HERO is redolent of Much Ado About Nothing and not so far removed from anything by Moliere, which is no surprise as the co- writer director, Laurent Tirard, was the co-writer director of Moliere, the delightful bio pic of a decade ago.

Both scripts were co authored with Gregoire Vigneron.

At ninety minutes,THE RETURN OF THE HERO remains a romp in pace, tone and entertainment pleasure.

Production values are very pleasing to the eye, from ravishing natural scenery, historic architecture and costumes that are consummately crafted.

THE RETURN OF THE HERO is probably more hysterical than historical but who says you should let facts get in the way of fun?

Dates and venues for the 2018 Alliance Française French Film Festival are:

SYDNEY:
27 Feb – 27 March
Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema, Palace Central & Hayden Orpheum Cremorne