Roman de gare

People tell lies. Writers and directors do it for a living. Fortunately for Roman de gare, Claude Lelouch is a fabulous fibber — even if his slick direction is more convincing than his hackneyed screenplay. The idea of deception pervades Roman de gare’s tricky world — Lelouch might even fool you into thinking his film has substance. Famous novelist Judith Ralitzer (Fanny Ardant) travels the world looking for intriguing characters while her may-or-may-not-be ghost writer (Dominique Pinon) embarks on his own adventure of mistaken identities, one that dissects the narratives that people create in their own lives. At first the film’s cheeky self-reflexivity provides a clever platform for suspense and humor, but the pulpy pabulum overwhelms its insights into relationships. As Lelouch adds each new layer to the convoluted story, his perception of human behavior becomes more of a fiction than a truth. 103 minutes | French | Kendall Square