Tatie Danielle (Auntie Danielle) is a 1990 French black comedy film directed by Étienne Chatiliez. It stars Tsilla Chelton as Auntie Danielle Billard.
The film's tagline is "Vous ne la connaissez pas encore, mais elle vous déteste déjà.", which translates to "You may not know her yet, but she hates you already."
Contents
Plot
Danielle Billard, aged 82, is a childless widow of an army colonel. She lives in a small-town home in Auxerre with her faithful housekeeper, Odile. Things are not as they appear. Danielle is mean, cruel and malicious. When Odile "accidentally" dies, Danielle divides her estate between her grand-niece and grand-nephew, Jeanne and Jean-Pierre. She then goes to live in Paris with Jean-Pierre and his family. Although the family believes her to be an agreeable elderly lady, they soon discover her true colours.
The family goes on an extended vacation leaving their aunt in the care of a young woman, Sandrine. Little does Danielle know, she has finally met her match. Through many turbulent episodes these two women develop an ostensibly mutual love-hate "respect".
Cast
Tsilla Chelton as Auntie Danielle Billard
Catherine Jacob as Catherine Billard
Isabelle Nanty as Sandrine Vonnier
Neige Dolsky as Odile Dombasle
Éric Prat as Jean-Pierre Billard
Karin Viard as Agathe
Laurence Février as Jeanne Billard
Mathieu Foulon as Jean-Marie Billard
Gary Ledoux as Jean-Christophe "Totoff" Billard
Virginie Pradal as Mrs. Lafosse
Jacqueline Dufranne as Mrs. Ladurie
Dominique MacAvoy as Mrs. Lemoine
Bradley Harryman as Michael
Madeleine Cheminat as Mrs. Mauprivet
Nicole Chollet as Ginette Mauprivet
André Wilms as Dr. Wilms
Olivier Saladin as the butcher
Lorella Cravotta as the butcher's wife
Patrick Bouchitey as the beggar
Évelyne Didi as the lady on the bus
Frédéric Rossif as the man by the lake
Jean-Pierre Miquel as the doctor
Reception
Critic Roger Ebert awarded the film 3 out of 4 stars and wrote, "The most refreshing thing about 'Tatie Danielle' is that it allows an old woman the same freedom as any other movie character, to be unpleasant and mean-spirited. The movies too often sentimentalize old people. They are either wise or childlike, and in either case they seem to have outgrown the weaknesses of youth. Tatie Danielle hasn't. Maybe that’s what keeps her alive", adding "the movie’s last shot is perfect". Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times also gave a positive review, praising the cast and Chatiliez's satire.
Awards and nominations
Tatie Danielle was nominated for three César Awards:
1991 César Award for Best Actress nomination: Tsilla Chelton
1991 César Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination: Catherine Jacob
1991 César Award for Most Promising Actress nomination: Isabelle Nanty