Riviera (2005)

The staid lives of a mother and daughter eking out a living in a coastal French resort town seem to take a turn for the better when a new man enters their life in this drama from sophomore filmmaker Anne Villacèque. Years of toiling away at a lavish resort have weathered chambermaid Antionette (Miou-Miou), and her daughter, Stella (Vahina Giocante), supplements her mother's income by working as an exotic dancer at a local nightclub. As Antionette bides her time at the resort by fantasizing about the handsome young guests, Stella begins to see promise in the future in the eyes of visiting real estate agent Jean-Michel (Elie Semoun). Though Jean-Michel initially sweeps young Stella off her aching feet with promises of a better tomorrow, her wiser mother soon comes to the realization that sometimes people are not what they initially appear to be. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi