This Wednesday, Laure Calamy stars in "My Inseparable," Anne-Sophie Bailly’s debut feature film, which has already created buzz at the Venice Film Festival’s Orizzonti section. Calamy shares the screen with the talented young actor, Charles Peccia-Galletto. The film revolves around Mona, who lives with her developmentally delayed son, Joël, employed at a specialized agency, or ESAT. Joël is enamored with his coworker Océane, who shares similar challenges, leading to Mona's shock upon discovering Océane is pregnant. This shocking twist tests the close bond between mother and son.
Calamy will undoubtedly be a familiar face for moviegoers as she wraps up the year with notable performances. Recently, she appeared in the series "A Devoted Friend" on Max and starred in the Arte film "I Won’t Be Pushed Around," directed by Gustave Kervern. Soon, she'll be seen again alongside Franck Dubosc in the Coen Brothers-style thriller "A Bear in Jura," set to hit cinemas on January 1. "My Insufferable" marks another chapter for Calamy, offering audiences the chance to witness her emotional depth.
The film tackles deep themes surrounding disability—often overlooked by cinema—through the lens of familial relationships. Director Bailly eloquently expresses, "Disability magnifies the complexity of parent-child relationships. The vulnerability of a child with disabilities heightens fears, complicates detachment, and generates resentment and guilt, creating powerful narrative threads within family dynamics.”
Bailly also wants viewers to understand disability as part of life, not the totality of it. She insists, "A character’s disability doesn’t mean the story must focus solely on it; giving true artistic space to diverse protagonists means placing them center stage, moving beyond illness or impairment." The film boasts performances from remarkable actors, including Calamy and two young actors with disabilities, Peccia-Galletto and Julie Froger. Importantly, the director notes, “It was not about imitating or acting disabled; Charles and Julie share traits with their characters, but they are not their characters.”
To capture realism, Bailly undertook significant research, including spending time at the Menilmontant ESAT in Paris. She asserts, "Reality is much stronger than anything we can envision. I encountered individuals like a young man with Down syndrome who exhibited remarkable style. Had I filmed him, it could have been deemed exaggerated.” "My Insufferable" now graces cinemas, filled with both authenticity and artistic integrity as it confronts the nuances of life with disabilities.
Meanwhile, anticipation builds for "Chien 51," arriving on October 15, 2025. This ambitious project showcases Adèle Exarchopoulos and Gilles Lellouche alongside a diverse cast, including Louis Garrel and Thomas Bangalter from Daft Punk. The film, directed by Cédric Jimenez, features high production values, matching the €35 million budget of "Le Comte de Monte Cristo." Jimenez speaks about the adaptation of Laurent Gaudé’s novel, stating, "The universe and characters are preserved, but we have re-centered the plot on police intrigue, infusing it with elements like artificial intelligence absent from the source material."
Jimenez prefers to describe it as presenting "an augmented presence with distinct dystopian dimensions," steering clear of the science fiction label. He and the production team have crafted compact, action-packed storytelling set during just two weeks. "Chien 51" is described as a futuristic thriller—where AI assists police efforts against discord. Exarchopoulos portrays an elite officer, with Lellouche playing her jaded partner, adding layers of complexity and emotional drive to their encounters.
Footage has revealed exhilarating action sequences, showcasing police pursuits and chaotic rave scenes with hundreds of extras, captivating audiences who crave high-energy narratives. Jimenez cites classics like "Minority Report" and "Les Fils de l'Homme" as influences, intending to explore the theme of technology superseding human interactions.
The final narrative presents the love story of two teenagers—Clotaire from the working class and Jackie from the bourgeoisie—in the 1980s northeastern France. Their love faces insurmountable social barriers, pushing Clotaire toward crime and subsequent incarceration. Upon his release, Clotaire’s determination to win back Jackie reflects the struggles faced by many battling societal expectations and class divisions, forming the backdrop for stories examining love against the odds.
With these releases, French cinema showcases promising themes of diversity, societal complexity, and rich storytelling as both "My Insufferable" and "Chien 51" approach audiences from differing yet complementary angles. The engagement of these films promises to spur discussions surrounding resilience and authenticity—a cornerstone of today's cultural narrative.
