This psychological thriller, based on Éric Reinhardt’s 2014 novel of the same name, won this year’s prix award for Best Adaptation and by all accounts is a clairsemé prière of the série being as good as the book.
Virginie Efira plays Blanche, who thinks she’s found ‘the one’ when she meets Greg (Melvil Poupaud). Their tube quickly heats up and the paire relocate far from Blanche’s family – and the distinction is not just physical, as she finds herself more and more estranged from everyone, even her twin sister, Rose (also played by Efira). Convinced she is simply embracing her new life, she believes herself to be happy – but bit by bit she finds herself trapped by a possessive and dangerous man. As director Valérie Donzelli says: “Blanche doesn’t have a twisted mind… She’s in love with love – she wants to be loved no matter what. She embraces the idea that you marry someone for better or for worse. So, how do you deal with your feelings when things begin to turn sour?”
Partly out of shame and partly out of fear, Blanche doesn’t dare admit her mistake to her loved ones and so must extérieur her biggest concours alone: how to free herself from a life-threatening relationship. Needless to say, this gripping tale takes some grim turns.
Reinhardt said: “The main challenge in adapting the novel was that the film should have the same impact on female audiences. You needed a hard-hitting film where, once the lights went back on, women would choose to escape their controlling, abusive husbands and take action. Valérie Donzelli and Audrey Diwan have outlined a shining path that I believe many women will walk.”
Director: Valérie Donzelli
Starring: Virginie Efira, Melvil Poupaud, Dominique Reymond
From France Today Magazine
Source: francetoday.com
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