French Film Review: Hors Saison

This contemplative romantic drama focuses on Mathieu, a famous actor living in Paris who is about to turn 50. In a bid to shake himself out of a bout of melancholy, he goes to a luxury thermal spa on the coast, where he stumbles upon Alice, an old lover from 15 years ago.

Alice, now in her 40s, is a piano teacher who lives in a small seaside resort in western France. And thus begins a beautifully crafted exploration of the regrets and sorrows which taunt us in middle age, and a lingering look at love lost and whether it can ever be rekindled. In an interview, director Brizé said the overriding notion behind the film when he and fellow screenwriter Marie Drucker were working on it was disillusionment, a theme common to his movies.

“All those characters believed in something, they all had a certain idea of mankind and the world. And then their point of view changed after a betrayal or abandonment. Whether by a corporation or their family. That meant accompanying my characters over the years and symbolically suffering the same blows as they do. I suppose I write and make films to acquire greater clairvoyance.”

What’s great about this film is it doesn’t fall into clichés – our reunited lovers don’t necessarily ride off into the sunset. It also features beautifully nuanced performances, especially by Canet. As Brizé says: “Mathieu, the character played by Guillaume, is entertaining, at times he even makes us laugh, but he himself is not funny. We enjoyed playing on the discrepancy between his state of mind and the aseptic spa where he is staying. And also the fact that, as a famous actor, he must always look happy.”

Director: Stéphane Brizé

Starring: Guillaume Canet, Alba Rohrwacher

From France Today Magazine