Cafe Au Lait

A first feature by 25-year-old French writer-director-actor Mathieu Kassovitz, this is a light comedy about an 18-year-old West Indian woman who finds herself pregnant by one of her two boyfriendsa Jewish bike messenger (Kassovitz) and an African law student, neither of whom knows about the other before learning of the pregnancy. As the two guys struggle to overcome their racial, ethnic, and class biases they gradually form a sexless trio with the heroine, nursing her along until she gives birth. Most of this is predictable Archie Bunker-style humor, though some of the details about contemporary Parisian life may make it a little fresher for American audiences. With Julie Mauduech and Hubert Kounde. (JR)

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