Les mains libres
Encyclopedia
Les mains libres is a 2010 French drama film
directed by Brigitte Sy
. It stars Ronit Elkabetz
, Carlo Brandt, and Noémie Lvovsky
. It was released theatrically in France on 16 June 2010. It is a feature-length prequel to Sy's 2008 short film, L'endroit idéal.
. She defies legal boundaries and unleashes a series of consequence when she forms a deep romantic relationship with Michel (Brandt), an inmate involved in the film project.
, described it as "intelligent, gracious and humble.. a love story of the purest sense of the term." Lucie Calet of Le Nouvel Observateur
, continued that it is a "Greek tragedy" of "great dignity." Le Figaro
praised the depiction of the tangible reality of the film as well as Eliabetz' superb and dark performance, evoking traits of the Madonna
.
The film was warmly received by The New Yorker
; "with calm and nuanced images, Sy captures emotionally unguarded characters locked in the gaze of prying eyes; with brusque, quiet action and incisive, tight-lipped dialogue, she sets a gripping plot in motion while keeping it close to the heart."
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Brigitte Sy
Brigitte Sy
Brigitte Sy is a French actress and filmmaker. Her directorial film debut Les mains libres was released in 2010 to critical acclaim in France.-Personal life:She is the mother of the actor Louis Garrel who she had with the director, Philippe Garrel...
. It stars Ronit Elkabetz
Ronit Elkabetz
Ronit Elkabetz is an Israeli actress and filmmaker. She works in both Israeli and French cinema. She has won three Ophir Awards and has received a total of seven nominations.- Biography :...
, Carlo Brandt, and Noémie Lvovsky
Noémie Lvovsky
Noémie Lvovsky is a French film director, writer, and actress.She studied cinema at La Fémis in Paris, notably a contemporary of Arnaud Desplechin, with whom she often collaborates...
. It was released theatrically in France on 16 June 2010. It is a feature-length prequel to Sy's 2008 short film, L'endroit idéal.
Plot
Barbara (Elkabetz) is a filmmaker developing a film written and acted by prison inmates in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. She defies legal boundaries and unleashes a series of consequence when she forms a deep romantic relationship with Michel (Brandt), an inmate involved in the film project.
Cast
- Ronit ElkabetzRonit ElkabetzRonit Elkabetz is an Israeli actress and filmmaker. She works in both Israeli and French cinema. She has won three Ophir Awards and has received a total of seven nominations.- Biography :...
as Barbara - Carlo Brandt as Michel
- Noémie LvovskyNoémie LvovskyNoémie Lvovsky is a French film director, writer, and actress.She studied cinema at La Fémis in Paris, notably a contemporary of Arnaud Desplechin, with whom she often collaborates...
as Rita - Camille Figuereo as Chloé
- Adama Doumbia as Roel
- Denis Maréchal as Fifi
- Gurgon Kyap as James
- Abdelhafid Metalsi as Mouloud
- Xavier Legrand as Laurent
- Ahmed M'Hemdi as Bouda
- François Négret as Sergueï
- Alain Ollivier as Le directeur de la prison
- Sasha Andres as Marie-Pierre
- Dominique Frot as La juge
- Mireille Roussel as La tireuse de carte
Reception
Thomas Baurez of L'ExpressL'Express (France)
L'Express is a French weekly news magazine. When founded in 1953 during the First Indochina War, it was modelled on the US magazine TIME.-History:...
, described it as "intelligent, gracious and humble.. a love story of the purest sense of the term." Lucie Calet of Le Nouvel Observateur
Le Nouvel Observateur
Le Nouvel Observateur is a weekly French newsmagazine. Based in Paris, it is the most prominent French general information magazine in terms of audience and circulation ....
, continued that it is a "Greek tragedy" of "great dignity." Le Figaro
Le Figaro
Le Figaro is a French daily newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of three French newspapers of record, with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France. It is also the second-largest national newspaper in France after Le Parisien and before Le Monde, but...
praised the depiction of the tangible reality of the film as well as Eliabetz' superb and dark performance, evoking traits of the Madonna
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
.
The film was warmly received by The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
; "with calm and nuanced images, Sy captures emotionally unguarded characters locked in the gaze of prying eyes; with brusque, quiet action and incisive, tight-lipped dialogue, she sets a gripping plot in motion while keeping it close to the heart."