Nothing predisposed Alma, a rich idle bourgeois, and Mina, who shares her time between harassing work and the two children she raises alone, to meet, even less to establish a friendship. Only here, with their respective husbands incarcerated, here are those that “separate”. In Bordeaux prisonerby Patricia Mazuy, Isabelle Huppert and Hafsia Herzi give themselves a fabulous duel of actresses.
At first glance, the argument on which the intrigue of the film is based had nothing to convince. In fact, the idea of a spontaneous intercultural friendship between a wealthy woman and a woman from the working class has something to make a eyebrow. Even there was a matter with a heavy comedy more than a social drama – social drama mixed with humor and suspense.
Against all expectations, the too rare filmmaker Patricia Mazuy (Saint-Cyr) Not only manages to make this postulate completely credible, but ultimately offers a vibrant story of emancipation and mutual understanding. However, any empathetic as it may be, the gaze on these two women and their own circumstances remains lucid and non-sentimental.
Because there are manipulations, there are betrayals …
It is necessary, that said, to specify that a good part of the likelihood is accomplished by Isabelle Huppert and Hafsia Herzi, which both offer exceptional performance. Without real surprise, Huppert dazzles in the role of Alma: a score which, in theory, lent flank to caricature, to overflows. Conversely, the actress circumscribes her game and in fact very little. The effect produced is all the more powerful.
The star of The ceremony and The pianist is also particularly formidable when it comes to delivering the projections that punctuate dialogue.
-Discovery in The seed and the muleHafsia Herzi is not to be outdone, far from it. His Mina moves, as much by her precarious situation as by her stubbornness not to be done.
Irresistible friendship
In this regard, the sub -intrigue concerning a shame of Mina’s spouse, which sub -intrigue leads the film in thriller zone, works less well, as essential as it is (superb) final reversal.
Much happier: this component “ road-trip “In the company of the two heroines: we go to the sea, but it is gray, it rains … In other words, we believe the table is for a cliché sequence, but skillfully, Patricia Mazuy goes elsewhere: it’s representative of all her film.
Ultimately, Bordeaux prisoner is never as captivating as when the film focuses on friendship may not be unwavering, but certainly irresistible, from Alma and Mina.
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