La maison (2007)

Malo (Sergi Lopez) has separated from his wife and a divorce is in the works. His children leave with his wife on holiday, and he is lonely and depressed. His friend Rémi (Bruno Salomone) ... See full synopsis »

Director:

Manuel Poirier

Writer:

Manuel Poirier

Stars:

Sergi López, Bruno Salomone, Bérénice Bejo

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sergi López	...	Malo
Bruno Salomone	...	Rémi
Bérénice Bejo	...	Cloé
Barbara Schulz	...	Laura
Cécile Rebboah	...	Nathalie
Florence Darel	...	Noémie
Luc Bernard	...	Fournier
Guillaume de Tonquédec	...	L'avocat (as Guillaume de Tonquedec)
Bastien Telmon	...	Le jeune avocat
Sam Desarmegnin	...	Ferdinand
Juliette Poirier	...	Lola
Léo Poirier	...	Antoine
Tom Méziane	...	Jérémie
Julie Judd	...	La jeune entraîneuse
Philippe Mangione	...	L'adjoint de l'imprimerie

Storyline

Malo (Sergi Lopez) has separated from his wife and a divorce is in the works. His children leave with his wife on holiday, and he is lonely and depressed. His friend Rémi (Bruno Salomone) drags him to a party in the country, and driving back they see by chance a notice of a house being sold at auction by creditors. The low reserve price surprises them and they go round to have a look. Finding the door open, Malo picks up a letter from a little girl to her father saying she misses him - moved by the resonance with his own daughter, Malo accidentally takes the note with him when they leave in a hurry. He then resolves to return the note to the now grown-up little girl Cloé (Bérénice Bejo), but of course it's awkward to explain how he got it. He learns that she really doesn't want to sell the house, which is all that remains of her childhood. The relationship between them develops, and emotions run high at the auction. Ultimately the film explores whether Malo can give both or either ...

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | full frontal female nudity | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Diaphana [France]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

22 August 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

A ház

Company Credits

Production Co:

Diaphana Films, France 3 Cinéma, Canal+

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

User Reviews

A small miracle

One finds in this beautiful film all that makes us appreciate the work of Manuel Poirier. People who have been hurt by life, confronted with the wounds of their existence (here, a divorced man with children, the death of a father…), who try valiantly to cope, with their strengths and especially their weaknesses. A very human film, significant and right, with an infinite tenderness. The tone is melancholic, almost harsh, trying to come to terms with people and relationships, but also the links between them (both mysterious and changing). This house becomes the powerful symbol of it. But let this not stop you seeing it: La Maison isn't a comedy, but its characters are profound, perfectly interpreted (Sergi Lopez, as usual, but also Bérénice Béjo, very moving in an unusual register) and beautiful locations (one realizes how much the director loves the 'province'... he's one of the few who knows how to depict it really well). There is something of Pialat, in this film (in a positive way). This fascinating little jewel stays in our heads, like all sensitive and true works. In its own way, a small miracle.