Debuted at the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival, “La Femme de,” directed by David Roux, is now showing in theaters. Here’s what the audience thinks so far.
Premiering at the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival, “La Femme de,” directed by David Roux, is a film adaptation of the 1998 novel “Her Former Name” by Hélène Lenoir. The movie stars Mélanie Thierry in the lead role, supported by Éric Caravaca, Arnaud Valois, and Jérémie Renier.
Meet Marianne today: the wife of a wealthy industrialist, envied and admired, a paragon of a spouse and a dedicated mother. As she approaches her 40th birthday, the comfort of her expansive family home has slowly sprung a merciless trap around her. Caught in a tangled web of social, familial, and marital obligations, complicit in her own disappearance, she has unwittingly given up on herself. When a shadow from her past reappears, a crack emerges. Is another life possible? And at what cost?
What do viewers think of this intimate and suffocating drama? On AlloCiné, the film currently holds an average rating of 3.5 out of 5, based on 46 scores and 14 reviews.
Mélanie Thierry Delivers a Commanding Performance
Audiences are particularly impressed by Mélanie Thierry’s compelling portrayal of a woman trapped by her social status. Her performance helps to create a tense and anxiety-inducing atmosphere, enhanced by meticulous aesthetic choices that draw viewers into the story.
LOUISE ARCENS (5/5): “A tense film, with very accurate direction, remarkable lighting, a very strong and seldom addressed subject, all beautifully carried by an exemplary cast: Mélanie Thierry confirms her immense talent, Éric Caravaca is chillingly out of character. A very beautiful discovery for me! A must-see.“
CGD (5/5): “Wonderful film. The suffocating atmosphere, like a locked room, the beauty of the images, the shots, the lighting, the performance of the actors, all excellent, and the music, though sparse, is so poignant when it accentuates certain moments with a deep sigh. The sigh of this stifled woman. You leave soaked in this heavy world that sneaks in subtly and disturbs, with an uncontrollable need to breathe.“
Jean Michel N. (4.5/5): “Mélanie Thierry is very moving in this film with a subtle atmosphere. We are drawn into the unfolding situation of this woman’s confinement, a very beautiful human story. The music beautifully complements the narrative.“
Anne CC (4.5/5): “Kudos to Mélanie Thierry, who carries the film as this fragile and submissive woman, imprisoned in her social condition and silence! Surrounded by contemptuous men, the film’s title ‘The Wife of’ truly resonates here. Noteworthy are the secondary roles, the involvement of Jérémie Renier, and the house, a character in its own right! Excellent direction and cinematography, especially the scene on the bench in a contrast of colors.“
Lofi (4/5): “Mélanie Thierry is a great actress. Serious roles suit her perfectly. She is wonderfully supported by a perfect cast, Éric Caravaca leading the way. The bourgeoisie, its codes, and the treatment of women at times made me want to scream. A muted yet disturbing world.“
A Minimalism That Keeps the Viewer at a Distance
Even those less convinced by the film acknowledge Mélanie Thierry’s performance, but it doesn’t entirely make up for the film’s flaws. Some audience members find the script and direction too conventional, making the story predictable and limiting emotional engagement.
Jipéhel (3/5): “Mélanie Thierry, by playing ‘enigmatic,’ borders on ‘nothing’ or ‘almost nothing’ here. It’s hard to empathize with her cold, haughty character consumed by boredom at any point. Éric Caravaca does almost well as the husband, more concerned with his business and his image of an aristocrat than with his marriage. Jérémie Renier and Arnaud Valois round out the top bill. But again, the true star of the film remains the grand house – a nod to Aurélien Marra’s cinematography –, embodying a wealth that has grown generation after generation, a wealth sure of itself, discreetly arrogant. Is that enough to make a film? You be the judge.”
Olivier T. (3/5): “A classic and conventional film, the storyline is unremarkable. Good performance by Mélanie Thierry.“
Niskafilody (3/5): “David Roux signs a film all in restraint: no big outbursts, but a subdued tension, like a family dinner where someone will inevitably crack, but you don’t know when. The narrative sometimes lacks depth, but the oppressiv…
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A passionate journalist, Iris Lennox covers social and cultural news across the U.S.