Venus Beauty review

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

This meandering and only partially involving romantic comedy, written and directed by former actress Tonie Marshall, revolves around a Parisian beauty parlour.

Run by the ultra-efficient Nadine (Ogier), the salon is staffed by three very different women, including the middle-aged Angele (Baye), who shies away from long-term relationships, preferring one-night stands. And then one day a handsome young stranger (Le Bihan) comes up to her and declares that he's fallen in love with her. She eventually becomes romantically involved with him, only to learn that his girlfriend is one of her clients...

Venus Beauty seeks to probe beneath the surface of its characters' lives, revealing their underlying insecurities and desires. Despite some opaque motivations, it's still assuredly acted, with a vein of wry humour, while the imaginatively designed shop, an oasis of colour amid the drab urban milieu, proves a memorable central location.

The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine.