Search: Starring Virginie Ledoyen

Ozon's quirky French murder mystery-cum-comedy-cum-musical is a brilliant pastiche on so many genres, it has no right to be as entertaining as it is, or as gripping.

It is as though all the moral ambiguity and mean-spiritedness of 1970s cinema had never died.

The message is less of a warning against perfection's poison, rather a reminder that 'desire is desire wherever you go'.

This is a first-class production, with lavish sets, sumptuous cinematography and a script that squeezes excitement and humour out of the most mundane opportunities.

Diane Kruger has only four days, all at the Petit Trianon, to leave her mark. And she does - a fervent and poignant, half-aware queen.

Makes much more use of cinematic techniques than the first adaptation.

The performances are exquisite.

The performances are from the Be-Yourself-School-of-Non-Acting.

Une Autre Vie marks a distinct change of register.

The production's lavish attention to detail in its recreation of the poverty and luxury of the time shows up crisply on this DVD, which is a visual feast.

As a rites-of-passage, it suffers too wide a time frame.

Directors Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury have delivered some effective horror thrillers in the past, but this is by far their most accomplished film to date.