Valérie Donzelli's new film, L'amour et les forêts, is in official selection at Cannes Première . Starring Virginie Efira, the film is released at the same time as its Cannes screening, on May 24.
Adapted from the novel byÉric Reinhardt and co-written by Valérie Donzelli and Audrey Diwan, L'amour et les forêts tells the story of Blanche, played by Virginie Efira, who believes she has found love when she meets Grégoire, played by Melvil Poupaud. Their relationship quickly intensifies, and they decide to move in together. Blanche moves away from her family, especially her twin sister, to start a new life. However, she gradually finds herself in the grip of a possessive and dangerous man.
Underneath his ideal son-in-law exterior, something is not quite right with Grégoire. Blanche may fall in love with him instantly, but she soon realizes what he's up to. The words"narcissistic pervert" are never uttered, but that's clearly what's going on in L'Amour et les Forêts. He denigrates her, harasses her, devalues her, makes her feel guilty, and above all, traps her. She has no way out, and the film shows the hell she suffers on a daily basis.
The film gradually turns into a thriller, in which Blanche's most difficult task is to make herself heard. Throughout the film, she tells her story to an anonymous interlocutor, a shrink, a lawyer, a policewoman - we don't know, but it's clear that this story had to be told, because her husband keeps talking for her, suffocating her to the point where she can no longer speak her own words.
Valérie Donzelli's new film is intensely violent and insidious. Virginie Efira's character is in the thrall of Melvil Poupaud's, who first distances her before isolating her. The horror of this daily life is underlined by superb editing, which punctuates the film by accentuating the repetitive aspect of Melvil's tantrums. This is a brilliantly written and acted film.
Films Incontournables UGC 2024: the best films of 2023 back in cinemas for €5
Les Films Incontournables UGC is aptly named, as it features the best films of the past year. The new edition of this must-see event takes place from January 10 to 23, 2024, in some 15 cinemas in the Paris region. Good news: tickets are only 5 euros. It's also an opportunity to meet and talk with some of the directors. Here's the program! [Read more]
Not sure which film to see today? Well, we've got plenty of films to show near you. [Read more]
Films Incontournables UGC 2024: the best films of 2023 back in cinemas for €5
Cinema: which film to see today, this Thursday November 21, 2024?
