Venus and Lulu

On holiday in southern France with her husband, a striking Finnish naturist who also suffers from narcolepsy wanders off into the fields and loses her way. When she collapses from sudden sleep, a local boy discovers her and decides to take her back to his village, equal parts helpful and proud of his find. What follows is a string of awkward encounters and small town gossip as the woman’s condition and unconventional attire collide with conservative routines, turning everyday moments into comedic mishaps. The film keeps its tone light, focusing on misunderstandings and physical humor rather than any darker consequences.

Directed by Daniel Losset and released as a television movie in 1991, Venus and Lulu stars Caroline Laurence as the enigmatic Finnish woman and Maxime Boidron as the mischievous young villager, supported by veteran French actors including Paul Crauchet and Alain Mottet.

As a made-for-television feature, Venus and Lulu didn’t have a theatrical release and therefore has no box office record, and detailed viewership figures from its original broadcast are not widely available.

The picture has stayed relatively obscure outside France, though it turns up in discussions about offbeat TV comedies from the period. Fans who remember it point to the oddball premise and colorful supporting cast, especially characters like Pépé Laubépin, as what gives the film its quirky identity.

Critical response has been mixed to lukewarm, reflected in modest audience scores rather than major awards or accolades, with a user average around 4.9 out of 10 from a small sample. The movie leans on themes of innocence, curiosity, and social awkwardness, using the protagonist’s narcolepsy and naturism for situational comedy, while performances aim to balance tenderness and farce rather than confront serious drama.