Le jour des rois (Three Kings Day or Epiphany) on 6 January is the last of the twelve days of Christmas and celebrated in France by eating la galette des rois (the kings' cake). The action of this film could hardly be more basic: we follow three sisters as they gather, celebrate, then return home. But 'action' is obviously not the interest of the film, which explores the characters and relationships among the sisters and two of their husbands. It's fortunate that the three sisters are played by giants of French cinema: Danielle Darrieux, Micheline Presle, and Paulette Dubost, all in their 70s or 80s when the film was shot.

The film is similar to those by Éric Roemer, filled with characters who love to talk and argue constantly about everything under the sun. Each of the actors beautifully delineates her or his character. Nobody grows, nobody learns anything, and nobody dies, but we get a window onto the lives of the bourgeoisie and get to watch masters of their craft at work.

The music, with English horn, is delightful and seems inspired by Les Six.

How unfair!After this delightful comedy,Marie-Claude Treilhou could not direct another movie until recently,and anyway ,that last effort is impossible to see .

Not only MC Treilhou directed this gem,but she also wrote the witty lines.She had also a dream of a cast with such luminaries as Danielle Darrieux and Micheline Presles.

There are wonderful scenes ,which take place in various locations ,including a graveyard and a Chinese restaurant but the best remains the scene when the two sisters have an argument about .... the Immaculate Conception!

Behind the humor,there's a darker side to "le jour des rois" :regrets ,fear of death,and the drag it is getting old.

It should have been one of the most celebrated French comedies of the nineties.It fell into oblivion.How unfair it is!