When it’s Wednesday, it’s cinema. Today, we offer you our selection of films for the week, providing guidance for your visits to the dark theaters.
Before we begin, were you aware that the 2024 Cinéroman Festival is currently being held in Nice? Indeed, from September 30th until next Saturday, October 5th, this sixth edition is set to be exceptional. Under the co-presidency of Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patelière, the jury will award the best literary adaptations on screen. Among the films in competition, you’ll find Emilia Perez by Jacques Audiard and When Autumn Comes by François Ozon. As for the stars, expect to see notable figures such as Louis Garrel, Ludivine Sagnier, and Josiane Balasko.
1. Joker: Folies à deux – Todd Phillips
Todd Phillips returns with this highly anticipated sequel following the monumental success of Joker (2019). Alongside Joaquin Phoenix, reprising his role as Arthur Fleck, we find Lady Gaga in what promises to be a fascinating portrayal of Harley Quinn. This film is a bold blend of drama and romance, exploring the shared madness between these two iconic characters. Todd Phillips, also known for The Hangover, once again demonstrates his ability to mix unexpected genres.
A few days before his trial for the crimes committed as the Joker, Arthur Fleck meets the great love and gets drawn into a shared madness.
2. When Autumn Comes – François Ozon
François Ozon, known for his unique style and delicate approach to complex subjects (8 Women and Frantz), presents a touching drama dealing with the passage of time, regrets, and reconciliations. With Hélène Vincent, Josiane Balasko, and Ludivine Sagnier, When Autumn Comes brings together three generations of women facing aging, family, and past secrets.
Michelle, a seemingly perfect grandmother, lives her peaceful retirement in a small village in Burgundy, not far from her best friend Marie-Claude. On All Saints’ Day, her daughter Valérie visits to drop off her son Lucas for the vacation week. But nothing goes as planned.
3. All We Imagine as Light – Payal Kapadia
Directed by Payal Kapadia, this poignant drama explores the complexities of human relationships and personal dilemmas. An award-winning director (A Night of Knowing Nothing, A Night Without Knowing), Payal Kapadia once again delves into a poetic and sensitive narrative, this time through the stories of two women. Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha portray these characters with great intensity, making this film as introspective as it is emotional.
Without news from her husband for years, Prabha, a nurse in Mumbai, denies herself any romantic life. Meanwhile, Anu, her young roommate, secretly dates a young man she is not allowed to love. During a stay in a coastal village, these two women, restrained in their desires, finally glimpse the promise of newfound freedom.
4. What Do We Do Now? – Lucien Jean-Baptiste
Directed by Lucien Jean-Baptiste, this film is a bittersweet comedy that invites us to follow the story of Alain, played by Gérard Darmon. Jean-Baptiste, an actor and director (The First Star), collaborates with a familiar French cinema cast featuring Isabelle Nanty, Gérard Darmon and himself in a supporting role. A film about reinvention and the humor in life’s situations.
Brutally laid off at 58, Alain decides to start his own company to prove, to himself and the world, that he hasn’t become useless. Enlisting Véronique, his former colleague stuck in depression for years, and Jean-Pierre Savarin, a returning game-show host, he tackles a sector he believes to be promising: childcare.
5. The Damned – Abel Danan
The Damned, a horror thriller, is directed by Abel Danan, age 25, a rising name in French cinema. This film delves into the depths of psychology and personal fears, reminiscent of the oppressive atmospheres of genre classics. Danan tackles intense themes such as agoraphobia and family traumas.
Yara, a 25-year-old Moroccan studying in Paris, hasn’t left her home for months due to her lifelong agoraphobia caused by terrible family events. One night, a mysterious apparition disrupts her daily life and forces her to relive her worst fears, pushing her to the brink of madness…
