Film
Josephine
- Romantic comedy
- Drama
- Comedy
- Light-hearted
A French woman invents a fictional Brazilian boyfriend to placate her family, only to watch the lie spiral into genuine chaos. It's a light romantic comedy that trades in misunderstandings and escalating absurdity, with a warm heart underneath the scrambling. Sweet-natured rather than sharp-witted, perfect for an uncomplicated evening.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you like light French romantic comedies built on a single lie snowballing out of control, with a heroine whose exasperation is funnier than her luck.
Skip it if the humour runs loud and broad, the plot is thin, and the romance plays more as farce than as chemistry, so it may feel slight if you want wit.
What it asks of you: a short, breezy sit at about an hour and a half, with light attention needed; it moves quickly from one scrape to the next and rarely lingers on feeling.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Amélie2001
Whimsical French romance about an outsider who meddles in other people's lives. Shares that sense of romantic possibility and gentle eccentricity, with stunning visual style and an unforgettable score.
But The quirk can feel laboured, and the romance itself is almost incidental to the surrounding magic. Some find the stylization precious rather than charming.
Bridget Jones's Diary2001
A woman lying about her life to impress others, spiralling into chaos, with genuine warmth beneath the comedy. Same DNA of relatable self-sabotage and the search for love in all the wrong ways.
But It hasn't aged brilliantly—some of the humour feels dated, and the tone occasionally tips into meanness about women's bodies.
Crazy, Stupid, Love.2011
Romantic comedy that balances ensemble cast dynamics with real emotional stakes. Multiple intersecting love stories with genuine laughs and moments that actually touch the heart.
But Tries to do too many things at once, and the tonal shifts between comedy and sentiment don't always land. Can feel scattered.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Josephine
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Happy, Texas1999
Same premise, stranger tone: can you become the person you're pretending to be? Here it's funny AND sad, and the reinvention actually sticks.
Two escaped convicts accidentally reinvent themselves in a small Texas town and somehow become better people. Absurdist comedy with genuine heart, finding love and belonging through living the lie until it becomes true.
But Wildly uneven tone—swings from broad farce to tender character work without quite earning the transitions. Feels like three different films.
More like this (7)
The Holiday2006
Two women swap houses and find unexpected romance in charming settings. Bighearted, funny, and deeply cosy—comfort viewing that respects its characters while delivering reliable laughs.
But Essentially a high-end fantasy about having time and money to heal your life. Pretty lightweight by design.
Notting Hill1999
Stumbling romantic comedy about ordinary people and the lies we tell. Funny ensemble, quotable, with genuine warmth and real chemistry between the leads.
But The premise—famous woman slums it with everyday guy—hasn't aged gracefully. Feels a bit smug about its own charm now.
When Harry Met Sally...1989
The gold standard of romantic comedies: witty, perfectly structured, and genuinely moving. Two people who refuse to admit the obvious while the film builds toward inevitable truth.
But Some of the gender politics feel dated, and if you're not in the mood for banter-heavy dialogue, it can feel overstuffed.
About a Boy2002
A man invents a false life and backstory to pick up women, then actually learns something about himself. Sophisticated rom-com with real character growth and surprising depth.
But The satire of London media types will land harder if you find that world amusing; otherwise it skews smug.
Two Days, One Night2014
A woman in crisis asks her coworkers for help, each conversation revealing character and connection. Stripped-back, human, genuinely moving—shows how love emerges through struggle.
But It's far more serious and economical than a light rom-com. No laughs here, only the complicated truth of asking for help.
The Intern2015
Lighter fare about unexpected connections and people surprising themselves. Warmly made, unpretentious, with genuine affection for its characters across generations.
But Rather thin as stories go, and relies entirely on your affection for the leads. Generic by design.
The Worst Person in the World2021
Both about a woman in her thirties unsure what she wants and sabotaging her own future, but this one pulls back the curtain on how ugly that really looks from inside her head.
A woman refuses to grow up, cycles through lovers and jobs, and keeps running from her own life. Structurally inventive, stunningly shot, genuinely funny and devastating in turns. About the terror of becoming the person you thought you wanted to be.
But Norwegian film, subtitled. At two hours and ten minutes, it's patient with itself in ways a light rom-com is not. Demanding on attention.
People
Cast
Marilou BerryJoséphine
Mehdi NebbouGilles
Bérengère KriefChloé
Charlie DupontJulien
Amelle ChahbiRose
Alice PolDiane
Cyril GueïCyril
Caroline AngladeAlexandra
Bruno Podalydèsle psy
Arben Bajraktarajle forain
Victoria Abrilla mère de Gilles
Lévanah SolomonMona, la première nièce de Gilles
Directing
- Agnès ObadiaDirector
Writing
- Pénélope BagieuOriginal Story
- Agnès ObadiaScreenplay
- Samantha MazérasScreenplay
Production
- Constance DemontoyCasting
- Marie-France MichelCasting
- Romain RojtmanProducer