L'Amour et les forêts

This is exactly the area the French dominate and few can compete with them. Valérie Donzelli can act, write, and direct both comedies and dramas, and this time she has added yet another powerful piece, a proper psycho thriller. It's not for nothing that they say psychological violence and abuse can be much more destructive than physical violence. Not to mention damn hard to prove, especially if the violent swine appears respectable on the outside. Melvil Poupaud really enjoyed playing that bastard, he was very believable and on point basically from beginning to end. I'm increasingly fond of Virginie Efira, in this film she shone even more. A strong story, plenty examples of which we unfortunately find in real life. (2024.10.04)

In the beginning everything is like a fairy tale, Blanche has found her prince charming, but it turns out too good to be true. The whole time I wondered if the film could have the same emotional impact on people who have never experienced the situation it portrays. Even though I experienced only a tenth of what the main character Blanche did, it is a very personal film for me, with strong, real and important themes. I have to praise both actors. Virginie Efira is a beloved star in France and in this film she proves that she has every right to be, and Melvil Poupaud, he's both stunningly charming and terrifying, as manipulators can sometimes be. I also have the piano score etched in my memory, really beautiful music. One of the most impressive dramas of this year's Cannes. [Festival de Cannes 2023] (2023.05.30)