Michael's Movie Grade: B+
An excellent thriller from France.
In this movie a psychist (Jodie Foster) finds that one of her patients has died with the reason given being suicide. However, something seems off about the whole ordeal to her, and she takes it upon herself to investigate.
Despite the basic premise, the mystery is never the main focus of this film. Instead, the movie is first and foremost a character study. Our main character is someone who often defines yourself by her profession often at the extent of her relationships with others, including her own son. When she loses confidence in her ability to do her job and begins to wonder if she actually makes things better or worse for her patients, she loses her sense of self. Her grip on reality and her understanding of her own life. This complex character study is presented in a way that feels completely believable and natural. She is not always the most likable character, but she is always a very relatable one. I found myself connecting deeply to her and becoming invested as I saw her grow as a person. Of course, being played by Jodie Foster (who speaks fluent French) doesn't hurt at all. She is truly wonderful here and perfectly captures the complexity of this character. While not the focus, the mystery is engaging enough keeping us wondering what the truth is. This film also has a stylish look and subtle sense of humor both of which give this an almost Hitchcock-ian feel.
As well developed as the main character is though, some of the supporting characters are underdeveloped. Also underdeveloped are some dream sequences, whose themes are never fully explored.
Despite some flaws, this is a truly excellent movie.
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