Not on the Lips

Not on the Lips (Pas sur la bouche)
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Alain Resnais
Produced by	Bruno Pésery
Written by	André Barde (original libretto)
Starring	Sabine Azéma Isabelle Nanty Audrey Tautou Pierre Arditi Darry Cowl Jalil Lespert Daniel Prévost Lambert Wilson
Music by	Maurice Yvain (original score) Bruno Fontaine (orchestration and additional music)
Cinematography	Renato Berta
Edited by	Hervé de Luze
Distributed by	Pathé
Release date	3 December 2003
Running time	115 minutes
Country	France Switzerland
Language	French
Budget	$11.2 million
Box office	$4 million

Not on the Lips (French: Pas sur la bouche) is a 2003 French musical film directed by Alain Resnais. It is an adaptation of the operetta Pas sur la bouche, written by André Barde and Maurice Yvain, which was first produced in Paris in 1925.

Act 1. Gilberte Valandray (Sabine Azéma) is the socialite wife of rich Parisian businessman Georges Valandray (Pierre Arditi) from whom she has concealed a previous but unvalidated marriage in America, being aware of her husband's belief in the indissolubility of a relationship based on a first sexual experience. Only her spinster sister Arlette (Isabelle Nanty) knows the secret. Secure in her husband's confidence in her, Gilberte now encourages a circle of amorous admirers, as flirts but nothing more, including Faradel (Daniel Prévost), a middle-aged dilettante, and Charley (Jalil Lespert), a young avant-garde artist who is also pursued by Gilberte's young friend Huguette (Audrey Tautou). Gilberte is then aghast to discover that her husband has invited to dinner an American, Eric Thomson (Lambert Wilson), with whom he is about to sign a deal, and who is none other than her first husband. With embarrassment Gilberte appeals to the truculent Eric to preserve her secret.

Act 2. Ten days later, at a soirée at the Valandrays' house, preparations are in hand for a performance of Charley's new play "Âmes primitives", set in Mexico. Eric is considering whether to renew his marital claims upon Gilberte, who seeks to deter him by demonstrating that Charley is her lover. Faradel offers the use of his bachelor flat to Charley who invites Huguette there - and Gilberte. Meanwhile Eric, who is about to take over the lease of the same flat himself, gives the address to Georges.

Act 3. The following afternoon, all the characters arrive under different pretexts at Faradel's bachelor flat, to the bemusement of the concierge Madame Foin (Darry Cowl). Just as Georges thinks he has discovered his wife's secret, Arlette declares that it was she who was Eric's first wife and now they are reconciled - and Eric upholds the lie, delightedly overcoming his longstanding horror of being kissed on the lips. Meanwhile Charley has been happily seduced by Huguette, and Georges and Gilberte are restored to peace of mind.