Love Me If You Dare

Best friends Julien (Canet) and Sophie (Cotillard) started a game together as two lonely children, which they continue as adults, a fearless competition to outdo one another with evermore daring and outrageous stunts.

At the age of eight, Julien and Sophie found a common bond after both being victims of taunts and harassment by their peers. At the time, Julien's mother had just been diagnosed with a terminal disease and she gave him a tin box as a keepsake. Julien decides to lend the box to Sophie to comfort her after another day of ridicule over her religion. Sophie returns the box, with a dare attached, which Julien accepts, and the game begins.

Despite getting the pair into a lot of trouble as children, the game was only a means with which to cause mischief. The game continues during their college years, where the dares become more and more dangerous and manage to push the pair further apart, whilst strangely strengthening the only connection they have left - the game.

The game begins to take hold of Julien and Sophia and leaves them with many difficult choices. Despite attempts to get away from the game, as the years go on, they must both choose between the game and their jobs, partners and friends - essentially the game versus the rest of their lives. Even in old age the pair refuse to let go of the game, which is an attempt to hold onto their youth and a common bond but the misunderstanding and pain it causes reaches new heights, but will it be worth it in the end?

Jeux d'enfants, Yann Samuell's debut film is a fun and original romantic comedy, which is definitely worth watching. The ending is certainly different, and not quite what you might expect - but the multiple interpretations ranging from happiness to tragedy that can be made of it sum up this movie.

Despite the literal translation (Game of Children) having a more symbolic meaning to the film, it is often known by the International title Love me if you Dare.

Michelle Foy