Monsieur Blake zu Diensten

Driven by fond memories of meeting his beloved wife 40 years ago, the otherwise rather spontaneous London businessman Andrew Blake (John Malkovich) packs his bags and travels to "Château Beauvillier" in France. Due to a mix-up, he is mistaken for the new butler by the housekeeper Odile (Émilie Dequenne) - Blake plays along so that he can stay at the castle. From now on it's "Monsieur Blake at your service"! The millionaire's daily routine suddenly consists of ironing newspapers for the lady of the house Nathalie Beauvillier (Fanny Ardant), polishing the ancient grandfather clocks with cotton buds and, above all, reading every wish from the pampered cat Mephisto's eyes. With his dry, English sense of humour, Blake livened up the dilapidated castle and began to really enjoy his new life. Now he just has to make sure that nobody finds out about him. Because there's also the grumpy gardener Phillipe, who doesn't trust Blake at all ...

With MONSIEUR BLAKE AT WORK, Gilles Legardinier not only adapts his own novel, he also succeeds in creating an ingenious combination of dry humour, quiet melancholy and English eccentricity as well as a perfect cast for the wonderfully quirky characters, right down to the supporting roles. The clash between the "snobbish English gentleman" Andrew Blake (played masterfully and charmingly by John Malkovich) and the world of the French in the countryside, led by the grande dame of French cinema Fanny Ardant, who breathes life into the lady of the manor in a reserved yet tenderly dignified manner, simply conjures up a smile on everyone's lips.