Mademoiselle Chambon: Movie Review

Mademoiselle Chambon: Movie Review

Mademoiselle Chambon
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Vincent Lindon, Sandrine Kiberlain
Director: Stephane Brize
The ever present Vincent Lindon crops up as Jean in this new film.
Jean's a happily married man, a loving father whose wife is expecting again and whose life is filled with the routine of the construction site, his father's ailing health and his son's school days.
And it's at that school that when picking up his son, Jeremy, he meets alluring Mademoiselle Chambon (Kiberlain).
Mesmerised, Jean starts to wake from his perfectly happy life and ponders whether he should take a chance on another life altogether...
Mademoiselle Chambon is one of those restrained, engrossing French dramas which is artfully directed, well acted and guaranteed to leave you swooning in its path.
Thanks to the rugged charm of Lindon, it's not an unpleasant film to watch - thanks to plenty of restrained looks, glances and daring eyes, there's a nice build up to the dilemma he faces.
Kiberlain is also good as Chambon, a woman whose flitting from school to school lifestyle attracts Jean - it's easy to understand the attraction and the reason for Jean's dilemma.

However, it's also down to restrained direction; it's kept plausible with the build up and not just seen as some rushed situation aimed at titillation - there's an emotional core to this. And while that core may not attract all, there's certainly something here for people to lose themselves in.