As fascinating as it is mesmerizing, Jacques Audiard’s latest feature film is captivating from a narratological perspective, as it follows the fate of its three main characters, each facing modern and timeless questions: the conception of love, sex, sexual orientation; but also doubts about work, and career orientation…
All three characters are at a point in their lives where they must make a significant decision, while simultaneously encountering various difficulties and questions. For example, the male character played by Makita Samba is torn between his professional, domestic, and sentimental decisions.
Audiard takes the time to set up his story, but above all, the characters that inhabit it, to the extent that one might wonder at the beginning of the film if we are following multiple parallel stories for different characters. This isn’t entirely incorrect; however, the film avoids turning into an anthology by connecting all the characters through the common place where they live: Les Olympiades.
Thus, Émilie, who is in love with Camille, finds herself attracted to Nora, whose story we follow before she meets Camille. Despite a sexual relationship between Camille and Nora, the latter is drawn to Amber, a pornographic actress with whom she will have a virtual relationship that is much more satisfying for her.
The film’s exploration of romantic and/or sexual relationships is deeply rooted in contemporary reality, which is a significant strength of the film.
The film is captivating and fascinating in its narrative, and Audiard was not alone in creating the screenplay; he collaborated with the talented directors Céline Sciamma and Léa Mysius on the writing of the film.
