Recently I went to see a great film called Les combattants (the English title is Love At First Fight), and since I found its trailer with English titles, I thought I would tell you about it, so you all can have it on your radar when it's eventually released in your country!
For now, other than the theatrical release in France/Belgium/Luxembourg/Switzerland, the film has been shown at the Jerusalem Film Festival, it's coming tomorrow to the Film By the Sea Festival in the Netherlands, the Vancouver International Film Festival on September 25, the Hamburg Film Festival on October 1, and it's released theatrically in Norway on September 26.
I loved it: great mix of comedy, drama, romance, a military setting, with even some fantasy (or certainly dream-like) elements towards the end. It's fresh, and it's the first film from its director, Thomas Cailley, a man with a great first name showing much talent already.
Synopsis :
Since their father passed away, Arnaud works with his older brother Manu in the family's woodworking company during the summer, still figuring out what he'll do with his future. During a job, he meets Madeleine, daugther of a house in which he's working. Madeline is odd, not a people person at all, and quite cold to Arnaud. She's tough, obsessed by joining the army, and talks about the upcoming End of Days. For some reason, Arnaud is drawn to her, and thus an unlikely friendship begins.
Here's the trailer :
Les combattants stars :
— Adèle Haenel as Madeleine Beaulieu.
— Kévin Azaïs as Arnaud Labrède.
— Antoine Laurent as Manu Labrède.
— Brigitte Roüan as Hélène Labrède.
— William Lebghil as Xavier.
Adèle Haenel is fantastic in this. She's 25, she's been nominated for César awards in 2008 (Most promising actress for Naissance des pieuvres (= Water Lilies)) and 2012 (Most promising actress for L'Appollonide: souvenirs de la maison close (= House of Tolerance)), and last February she won the César award for best supporting actress in Suzanne. This year, besides Les combattants, she co-starred in L'homme qu'on aimait trop (= In the Name of My Daughter), a dramedy by André Téchiné starring Guillaume Canet and Catherine Deneuve. Adèle Haenel is a great up-and-coming actress.
So you should be on the lookout for Love at First Fight, it's very well directed, very well acted, funny and weird, with a unique tone and colorful characters, I warmly recommand it.
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