Louise (Frot) is visiting her sister Martine (Huppert) in Paris. Its an odd couple thing, albeit black: Louise is naïve, kind, unfashionable, and from the country. Martine is sophisticated and bitchy. She fled their provincial family roots (and alcoholic mother) years ago, and is trapped in an unsatisfying marriage, whereas Louise has come to Paris to meet a publisher who is interested in her book.

It doesn't get more French than this: the intimate scale, the cheerfully open morality, the lack of a pat ending, the zany characters-none truly good or truly awful, but presented with an openness and sympathy for their flaws. And it's the characters that drive the movie, none more so than the sisters. Frot is excellent, but it's Huppert's demeanour-haughty yet brittle, all perfect cheekbones and pursed lips-that steals the show, even as she's being more dreadful than anyone has a right to be, whether it's dragging her sister from a highly anticipated show, telling her husband how much she hates him, or backstabbing friends.