Hannah drops her husband off at prison, where he is to begin serving a sentence. She then stoically goes about her life, household chores, working as a cleaning lady for the rich, and taking part in an amateur theatre group in the evenings. But signs pointing to an abominable crime by her husband accumulate, and Hannah begins to feel the pressure – people turn away from her and she finds herself very alone … Rampling gives an impressive performance in this dialogue-sparse study of total desolation, with her stony facial expression and a rigour that seems to envelop every fibre of her being. Only once is she allowed an emotional outbreak. The rest of the time, she seems to be in her own prison. In this film by director Andrea Pallaoro, a stranded whale ultimately becomes an appropriate symbol for the protagonist’s despair. In a reserved portrayal of increasing alienation, Charlotte Rampling uses minimalist means to achieve the greatest possible effect. The role garnered her the award as Best Actress at the 2017 Venice Film Festival.
by Andrea Pallaoro
with Charlotte Rampling, André Wilms, Stéphanie Van Vyve, Simon Bisschop, Michel Balthazar, Fatou Traoré, Luca Avallone
Italy / Belgium / France 2017 French 95’ Colour

With

  • Charlotte Rampling
  • André Wilms
  • Stéphanie Van Vyve
  • Simon Bisschop
  • Michel Balthazar
  • Fatou Traoré
  • Luca Avallone

Crew

Director Andrea Pallaoro
Screenplay Andrea Pallaoro, Orlando Tirado
Cinematography Chayse Irvin
Editing Paola Freddi
Production Design Marianna Sciveres
Costumes Jackye Fauconnier
Sound Guilhem Donzel
Music Michelino Bisceglia
Producers Andrea Stucovitz, John Engel, Clément Duboin