Just as the universe started with a big bang the comedy SITCOM does likewise and in the aftermath we are introduced to a family in utter chaos, disoriented and maladjusted. However, mother who is the central character believes she can rectify many of the problems. Nevertheless it is a white rat brought home by father that generates some sort of harmony within the household. The comedy moves fast and the laughs are in the lines spoken in dead seriousness by the competent cast. The story jumps from dreams to reality so we are never quite sure where we are. It takes someone like Francois Ozon to put all this on film. This original story is amusing rather than shocking and the sex scenes are not explicit but rely on one's imagination. The boys' group session with the courgettes does not go anywhere and one wonders if the censor has interfered. The big surprise is the giant rat sequence when the mood of the film changes and for some could become scary. I do not want to give away the plot. Suffice to say "We are what we eat". There is more truth than fiction in the film. It is now recognized that the keeping of pets can reduce blood-pressure and bring contentment and extend life-spans. Having peeped into all the bedrooms and seen the goings-on, we come in the end to a tombstone and we see the white rat nosing about. It is good story telling to leave us guessing and wondering. I am sure there are many interpretations. Perhaps mother's psychiatrist could attempt to explain it as he continues to unravel the lives of this tangled family.
Review of Sitcom
