Cousin Cousine 1975 Story Explained | French Romantic Comedy Classic
Cousin, Cousine is a 1975 French romantic comedy written & directed by *Jean-Charles Tacchella
At a family wedding, two distant cousins by marriage meet for the first time: *Marthe*, a modest secretary married to unfaithful Pascal, and *Ludovic*, a charismatic dance instructor married to self-absorbed Karine.
While their spouses are distracted, Marthe and Ludovic get to know each other. What starts as friendship slowly turns into a deep connection. As both marriages prove unhappy and both spouses remain unfaithful, the cousins decide to pursue their relationship for themselves, not for family expectations.
The film is a “comedy of manners” that humorously explores love, marriage, family dynamics, and choosing happiness. It became an international hit and was nominated for the 1977 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. It was later remade in 1989 as _Cousins_ by Joel Schumacher.
Tone: warm, witty, and human. Roger Ebert called it a “gloriously possible” depiction of an impossible love.
Cast: Marie-Christine Barrault as Marthe - Oscar nominated for Best Actress
Victor Lanoux as Ludovic
Marie-France Pisier as Karine - César winner for Best Supporting Actress
Guy Marchand as Pascal
Ginette Garcin as Biju, Marthe’s mother
Hubert Gignoux as Thomas, Ludovic’s father
Title: Cousin, Cousine / Cousin Cousine
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Comedy of Manners
Director & Writer: Jean-Charles Tacchella
Co-writer: Danièle Thompson
Runtime: 95 minutes
Release: 1975 | France
Language: French
Cousin, Cousine (1975) is a French romantic comedy classic directed by Jean-Charles Tacchella. The film follows Marthe and Ludovic, two cousins by marriage who meet at a wedding and find unexpected love while their own marriages fall apart.
In this video we break down the full plot, character arcs for Marthe and Ludovic, key themes about marriage and freedom, and why this film earned 3 Oscar nominations including Best Foreign Language Film. We also cover Marie-Christine Barrault’s Oscar-nominated performance and the film’s legacy.
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