for reason to which i be not privy and which may be no more than pure chance the bulk of daniele thompson screenplay feature ensemble cast and she be a past master at the multiple character and multi layer storyline . it be not surprising therefore than when she turn to direct she do so with her own screenplay la buche which center on three sister and their disparate life but also offer strong role to four semi lead with a handful of cameo ( isabelle carre neurotic wife and for example ) for good measure . thompson return to the multi character format in her third ( and so far last ) writer director stint and the brilliant fauteuils dorchestre but in between and a if to prove her versatility and she come up with this and essentially two hander which exploit brilliantly the talent of juliette binoche and jean reno . not that she ignore the big picture and she do and after all and set her story in an airport and an adjacent hotel allow a mere five minute or so of non airport or hotel screen time at the very end . in a clear nod to the hollywood epitomize by billy wild she employ a meet cute to bring the character together and from then on it downhill all the way with thompson sparkle dialogue slalom it way to a brilliant finale . both lead be a revelation and more than up to the task of work outside their image ( binoche be not note for comedy and reno for romantic lead ) and the obvious chemistry between them be confirm by the outtake that come with the dvd . there a nice line in scenery chewing from sergio lopez in a well place cameo a the abusive lover from whom binoche be flee and the sure footedness of the other speaking role be merely the bow on the ribbon with which thompson tie her wonderful bauble . sheer delight .