French Girl (2023)

This is very much a romantic comedy that should be seen as that and nothing more. I watched it on a TransAtlantic flight, and that is the perfect setting within which to watch it. The plot is simple. Gordon is involved with Sophie. Sophie is a gifted chef and Gordon is a gifted middle school teacher--she sees his shining light, but he is less sure of it himself. When Sophie's ex, Ruby--a mega-star chef and a media sensation--tries to lure Sophie back home to Québec City with a too good to be true chef opportunity. I enjoyed it, and was particularly fond of the setting in Québec City--my parents spent their honeymoon 67 years ago at Château Frontenac, which is the restaurant featured in this movie. Built in seven stages from 1892-1893, this building is an excellent example of the Château-style hotels built by Canada's railway companies. Enhanced by a magnificent site, the hotel evokes the romanticism of the 14th- and 15th-century château of the Loire Valley. My mom had the hotel receipt from their stay, which was $15/night. amazingly--now parking is literally $14/hour, so the times they have changed. We ate in the bistro, and while the view far exceeded the food, it was a wonderful experience, and a nice walk down memory lane for my mom after we burried my dad in his hometown in Northern Maine on their anniversay.