AllMovie

Yolande Moreau and Gilles Porte's When the Sea Rises... is a droll, leisurely foray into the north of France near the border with Belgium. It's a sweet-natured and enjoyable lark, anchored by the two strong, naturalistic performances (Moreau as Irène and Wim Willaert as Dries) at its center. The filmmakers are confident enough to let their story unfold slowly. At first, Dries seems mysterious and disreputable enough to conceivably be threatening, but before long, we realize he's just a gruff and impulsive dreamer, and it seems perfectly believable that he's drawn to Irène, who seems to lead the kind of freewheeling, creatively driven life that he'd like to. Note the way he impulsively tries on her mask when he sneaks into her dressing room and the incredulous way his friend asks Irène, "You actually make a living from clowning?" Irène, meanwhile, is used to the solitude of the road and notably unused to strangers being romantically interested in her. These are interesting and likable characters, and attractive people in their own way, which is to say not the typical Hollywood romantic comedy way. Irène's surprising timidity when she's not on stage is nicely complimented by Dries's neediness, and her stage show farcically parallels their impossible romance, a fact which is not lost on either character. The title seems to foreshadow the inevitability of their parting, and the film ends on a predictably bittersweet note. It's lightweight and rather forgettable but laudable for its honest, respectful treatment of its characters.