Mar. 29, 2017|France|111 Min.|n/A
Genre: Crime;Drama;Romance
Description: Orphan (French: Orpheline) is a 2016 French drama film directed by Arnaud des Pallières, featuring Adèle Haenel, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Solène Rigot, and Vega Cuzytek. The movie was showcased in the Special Presentations section at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.
The film revolves around four women at different stages of life, each representing various facets of a central character. Arnaud des Pallières takes a unique approach by intertwining their stories rather than presenting a straightforward narrative. However, this fragmented style can make it challenging to connect the characters as parts of a single individual for much of the film.
The story begins with Tara, a tough ex-convict, who seeks her share of a stolen sum from her former accomplice, Renee. Renee, a kind schoolteacher, is unexpectedly taken by the police, accused of being someone named Karine. Meanwhile, Sandra, a young and flirtatious woman, meets an older man at a café and later crosses paths with Tara at a racetrack, where they hatch a plan to manipulate the system for financial gain.
The film’s ambitious and uncompromising nature, typical of des Pallières’ work, positions it as a highbrow cinematic piece. While it may find a place in festivals and on VOD platforms, its theatrical success is likely to be confined to French-speaking regions.
Cast director: Arnaud des Pallières
Cast actor: Adèle Exarchopoulos, Adèle Haenel, Solène Rigot, Gemma Arterton, Jalil Lespert, Sergi López, Vega Cuzytek, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Karim Leklou, Robert Hunger-Bühler
Original name: Orpheline