Park Benches

Park Benches (original French title: Bancs publics (Versailles Rive-Droite)) is a 2009 French comedy directed by Bruno Podalydès from his own screenplay. The film unfolds around a small neighborhood park in Versailles, following a large ensemble of characters in relatively brief episodes: the people who come to sit in the park, the employees of an office building across the street and the staff of a nearby DIY store. Denis Podalydès, Florence Müller and the director himself figure among the central performers, while the all-star supporting cast includes Catherine Deneuve, Emmanuelle Devos, Sabine Azéma, Pierre Arditi and Chiara Mastroianni. Built from small encounters and everyday observations during an ordinary day, the film offers a playful portrait of urban life.