What It’s About
Attractive, middle-aged Claudine (Balibar) lives in a picturesque Swiss town with Baptiste (Duby), working as a seamstress. Once a week she ventures to the fancy hotel some distance away and targets unaccompanied male guests for one-time sexual encounters. When she meets Thomas (Sarbacher), a man interested in more than casual sex, her perfect system for avoiding emotional commitment is threatened.
Why We Love It
Debut feature from director Maxime Rappaz subtly exposes the lengths we go to shield ourselves from the risk of emotional pain. Balibar is stunningly good, exposing Claudine’s inner sadness and vulnerability in small moments. We at first wonder why she quizzes her lovers on where they’re from, then understand as she tells Baptiste (an amazing Duby) that’s where his dad is traveling (the father actually abandoned the family years before). We are grateful when the charming Thomas shows up, but not sure if Claudine has the confidence to grab onto a good thing. This intimate, achingly human film is a small, quiet winner.