How a French Romantic Comedy Survived a Global Crisis to Reach the Screen
In short: The 2002 film Jet Lag, starring Juliette Binoche and Jean Reno, is a classic romantic comedy born from a decade of development. Yet, its production faced a major hurdle when the September 11 attacks nearly derailed the project, forcing the director to scramble for a convincing airport setting to film.
Directed by Danièle Thompson, Jet Lag—originally titled Décalage Horaire—follows two strangers who meet at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. A beautician bound for Mexico and a chef traveling to Germany find themselves stranded together due to labor strikes and poor weather. Forced to share a hotel room, their initial animosity slowly shifts into a deeper connection, prompting both characters to reconsider their life paths. The film marks the second collaboration between Thompson and her son, Christophe Thompson, following their 1999 work, La Bûche.
The journey to production was long and complex. Thompson began drafting the script for Miramax Films in the early 1990s, initially envisioning an English-language version starring Isabelle Adjani. By the time principal photography commenced on 5 November 2001, the project faced significant logistical challenges. Thompson had secured permission to film at Charles de Gaulle before the September 11 attacks, but that access was subsequently revoked. She briefly considered Lourdes Airport as a substitute, though she doubted its ability to pass as the Parisian hub. Ultimately, she secured 10 days of shooting at the intended location, supplementing the remainder with sets and footage from Libby Airport.
While the film is a rare comedic turn for Juliette Binoche, who is better known for other roles, it received a lukewarm reception from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 56% approval rating based on 66 reviews, while Metacritic reports a score of 53 out of 100. Critics generally describe it as a light, fluffy experience tailored for fans of its two leads. Despite the mixed reviews, the film remains a testament to the persistence of its creative team, who navigated international security shifts and casting changes to bring this airport-bound romance to life after years of development.
The film's narrative relies on the classic trope of forced proximity, using the sterile, transitional environment of an airport to catalyze personal change. By trapping two individuals from different worlds in a state of limbo, the story explores how external circumstances—like strikes or bad weather—can disrupt the trajectory of one's life, leading to unexpected, if fleeting, romantic encounters.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Jet Lag (film)
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