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A schizophrenic woman’s experience of hypnotherapy unleashes a flood of startling images in Aurélia Mengin’s lavish cinematic poem, screening as part of Frightfest 2024. A daringly different way of looking at the illness, whose origins in this case seem to be entangled with repressed childhood memories, it begins with intensive sessions in a uterine volcanic cave and unfolds outwards from there, as psychiatrist Lecreulx (Stefano Cassetti) experiments in pursuit of a possible new treatment, and Alter tries to make sense of her life.

Mengin, who also appears in the film as Chris, a worker at an all-night garage with whom Alter embarks on an affair, had a close friend affected by schizophrenia and has drawn on that and her own experience of neurodivergence to examine what it’s like to navigate...

François Ozon on By The Grace Of God (Grâce À Dieu): “It was important to show the complexity of all these characters.” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

François Ozon’s timely and relevant By The Grace Of God (Grâce À Dieu), shot by Manuel Dacosse (Jean-François Richet’s The Emperor Of Paris) edited by Laure Gardette, and costumes by Pascaline Chavanne, stars Melvil Poupaud, Denis Ménochet and Swann Arlaud with Aurélia Petit, Josiane Balasko, Éric Caravaca, Martine Erhel, François Marthouret, Bernard Verley, Amélie Daure, Hélène Vincent, Max Libert, Nicolas Bauwens, Zuri François, Timi-Joy Marbot, and Zéli Marbot.

Alexandre Guérin (Melvil Poupaud) and François Debord (Denis Ménochet) with Gilles Perret (Éric Caravaca)

In the second half of my in-depth conversation with the director/screenwriter we discuss the complexity of the characters who are struggling to come to grips with memories from the past and the importance of the flashbacks in telling the story.

François Ozon on the roles for Melvil Poupaud, Denis Ménochet and Swann Arlaud in By The Grace Of God (Grâce À Dieu): "I decided to make this kind of relay race between these three characters." Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

By The Grace Of God (Grâce À Dieu), starring Melvil Poupaud, Denis Ménochet and Swann Arlaud with an impressive supporting cast including Aurélia Petit, Josiane Balasko, Éric Caravaca, Martine Erhel, François Marthouret, Bernard Verley, Amélie Daure, Hélène Vincent, Max Libert, Nicolas Bauwens, Zuri François, Timi-Joy Marbot, and Zéli Marbot, had its world première at the Berlin Film Festival, where it won the Silver Bear Grand Jury prize.

François Debord (Denis Ménochet), Gilles Perret (Éric Caravaca), Emmanuel Thomassin (Swann Arlaud), and Alexandre Guérin (Melvil Poupaud)

Whereas Tom McCarthy's Oscar-winning Spotlight focused on the journalistic tenaciousness of the reporters of the Boston Globe and its editor Marty Baron to expose the cover...

Following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard competition, the Marion Cotillard-starring Angel Face, which marked the feature directorial debut for French director Vaness Filho (Love Punch) was just picked up for North American distribution by Cinema Libre Studio.

Angel Face, based on an original screenplay developed by Filho with Alain Dias, will open later this year in the states via Cinema Libre after it already premiered in theaters in France last month.

The film stars Oscar-winner Cotillard as Marlene, a single mother who lives with her 8-year-old daughter, Elli, on the French Riviera. Marlene is more interested in partying and reality TV shows than taking care of her child, although she loves her dearly. Elli, with her mother as her only role model, starts to mirror behaviors, including wearing makeup and drinking alcohol. One day Marlene suddenly...

Cinema Libre Studio has acquired North American rights to “Angel Face” (Gueule d’Ange), starring Marion Cotillard, Variety has learned exclusively.

The drama marks the first feature-length film for French director Vanessa Filho (“Love Punch”), based on an original screenplay developed by Filho with Alain Dias. The movie was produced by Moana Films’ Marc Missonnier (“Marguerite”) and Carole Lambert (“Free Angela and All Political Prisoners”) via Windy Production with Mars Films co-producing and distributing in France, where it premiered in theaters on May 23.

The pic, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard, stars Cotillard as a single mother who lives with her 8-year-old daughter on the French Riviera, where she is more interested in partying and reality TV shows than taking care of her child. The daughter starts to wear makeup and drink alcohol, and the mother suddenly abandons her for a man she has just...

A regular at the Cannes Film Festival, Marion Cotillard opened the ceremonies last year with Arnaud Desplechin’s excellent Ismael’s Ghosts, and now she’s back this year with a new drama. Angel Face (aka Gueule d’ange) premieres in the Un Certain Regard section followed by a late-May release in France, and now the first trailer has arrived.

The feature debut of Vanessa Filho (who wrote the script alongside Diastème and François Pirot), the drama follows Cotillard as Marlene, a woman who abandons her daughter after a one-night stand and so her daughter fights to get her back. Also starring Alban Lenoir, Amélie Daure, Ayline Etaix, and Stéphane Rideau, see the trailer and poster below.

Angel Face will premiere at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section and opens in France on May 23.