Le Fil – “Neither a Credible Culprit, Nor an Obvious Innocent”

Nicolas is accused of murdering his wife. Maître Monier is deeply convinced of his innocence.

After the unforgettable *Le Procès du chien*, we’re treated to another courtroom drama, complete with the genre’s classic rhetorical flourishes. But this time, the subject is even more intense. It’s proof that one can be both an excellent actor and a skilled director. I’m hesitant to spoil anything, but in this case, I don’t have a choice. The conclusion features a stunning and shocking twist:
BIG SPOILER ALERT:
The seemingly harmless man, the victim of the system, the husband of an alcoholic, turns out to be a monstrous figure. Daniel Auteuil, in his dual role as actor and director, skillfully portrays him as a martyr, using clever sophisms like the empathy of his lawyer to make him seem almost heroic. Casting the soft-spoken Grégory Gadebois further intensifies this impression. In the end, we are left in shock and disbelief.

Mother Land – “Never Let Go”

A mother warns her twins that if they leave the house without a rope connecting them, they’ll face evil forces.

The director leans into nightmarish perceptions rather than relying on jump scares. Alexandre Aja skillfully employs horror tropes to build a story about the harmful weight of an oppressive maternal love. This forest-bound journey is filled with complex twists and remarkable allegory (the rope as an umbilical cord tethered to the home). Has the mother created a world of bondage? Is she simply unhinged, or are her hallucinations real? The performances of the two young actors are impressively powerful.

Niki – “To You, It’s Just a Housewife’s Hobby”

A portrayal of the life of Niki de Saint-Phalle.

Forgive my ignorance, but I didn’t even know this artist had existed. I often say, “not every life deserves a movie,” and here the only cinematic aspect is her troubled relationship with her father. This film feels padded with insignificant slices of life. Not knowing this artist, I might have found the film more engaging if we could have seen her works, but even that opportunity was denied due to copyright issues. Nevertheless, Charlotte Le Bon delivers a beautifully tortured and radiant performance.