Le Meilleur de la Vie (1985): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1985, Le Meilleur de la Vie is a drama film directed by Renaud Victor, running about 96 minutes. “A Better Life” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Two quarreling lovers from opposite sides of the economic scale take central stage in this drama about Veronique and Adrien. Veronique is wealthy and from the provinces, Adrien is impoverished and his ancestors come from Brittany. In spite of their different backgrounds, the two fall in love, marry, and eventually have a baby girl. At just about that time, Veronique decides to go back to school, and Adrien becomes both mother and father to their baby. Unable to cope with Veronique's new-found intellectual friends and different lifestyle, Adrien clashes with her, and their arguments lead to a separation for awhile. The two then get back together again, but not for long. It is on a return trip from visiting his mother in Brittany that Adrien's life undergoes a dramatic change, and his story takes an equally unexpected turn.

Who’s in it. Le Meilleur de la Vie stars Sandrine Bonnaire as Véronique, Jacques Bonnaffé as Adrien, Jean-Marc Bory as Véronique's father and Marie-Christine Barrault as Véronique's mother, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 2.0/10, Le Meilleur de la Vie has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Le Meilleur de la Vie page.

If you liked it. Fans of Le Meilleur de la Vie tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.