Bright Days Ahead

Marion Vernoux’s Bright Days Ahead is a telling change from the French title, Les beaux jours. The original speaks of present joys, the mistranslation — of a promised future.  Both titles share an irony. The English title is the name of the seniors club in which recently retired dentist Caroline (Fanny Ardant) is given a trial membership to sample the joys of pottery, theatre, field trips, computer workshops, etc., with her contemporaries. In their camaraderie and activity they seem bound for brighter days, except that their signs of aging and loss continue to build. The women already make a game of recalling their first signs of the doom of aging. But from the future perspective, the present compromises will seem “the bright days.”

While the others enjoy their activities and each other’s company Caroline slips into an affair with their computer teacher, Julien (Laurent Lafitte), some 20 years her junior. She fills two cavities for him and he fills her larger one — briefly. The commitment is largely on her part and inevitably she loses him to more youthful beauty.That's the way of the whirled.

The affair threatens Caroline’s marriage to Philippe (Patrick Chesnais), who is an extremely positive character, sensitive to her emotional situation, supportive, and clearly broken when he hears of her affair. But the film closes on their reconciliation. They join her friends for a seaside daytrip. While the skinny dip at the end establishes the group’s post-sexuality — they cavort heedless of their dilapidation — Philippe reports “a boner,” which in context we do not read as a faux pas. After an apparent lapse in their intimacy we infer Caroline will now find in her marriage what she sought outside — mutatis mutandis. Her husband won’t have the skills — sexual or technological — that Julien had, though he will continue more devoted. 

And perhaps he will see her newly illuminated by her recent attractiveness to a younger man:

Philippe: Have you looked at yourself?

Caroline: He does the job of looking at me!

Despite the familiar romantic scenes and music — you don’t need the langue to know it's Frrrranch — the age issue gives this film a touching distinction. Caroline’s camel coat has a vulvic slit up the back which may suggest either her turning her back on that aspect of her life or, conversely, her wearing her sexuality as a badge and a need despite her age. We’re more accustomed to seeing the young driven by sex. Here the elegant, sensitive and dignified elderly dentist shows that need can survive.