UNE RENCONTRE/ QUANTUM LOVE

France, 2014, 81 minutes, Colour.
Sophie Marceau, François Cluzet, Lisa Azuelos.
Directed by Lisa Azuelos.

This is a brief film made for television. It has two of France’s top stars in Sophie Marceau and François Cluzet. The director, Lisa Azuelos, also appears in a central role.

At a reception for the success of her book, Elsa, always a strong and attractive presence of Sophie Marceau, encounters a successful criminal lawyer, Pierre, François Cluzet. They joke about doing drugs, are attracted, and go their ways.

It is inevitable that they meet again after this initial rencontre.

Then we see the characters in their real lives, Elsa, successful with her work, but about to be divorced, having some difficulties with her younger daughter, the older daughter away from home. Pierre has a lot of friends at the courts, is married to Anne who deals in artefacts, has children at home.

The screenplay offers a lot of situations where Elsa and Pierre meet, are attracted, have some trysts together – only for the audience to find that this is all happening in Pierre’s imagination. Ultimately, both have to go to London for different work but coincide at a hotel and have time together.

Elsa has a toyboy boyfriend – and, perhaps, that will be something of her future. Pierre realises the tensions in his marriage, has some scenes with his wife (played by Lisa Azuelos) and will have to make decisions for his future.

1. The title? The encounter between the central characters? The title of Elsa’s book?

2. Brief film? Made for television? The strong cast?

3. A film about marriage? Divorce? Children and consequences? New partners?

4. A film about midlife crisis? Difficulties in marriage? the possibilities?

5. The initial party, Elsa and the celebration of her book, her friends, business connections? Pierre being pointed out? His being a successful criminal lawyer? The conversation? The flippant remarks about drugs? Their going aside from the rest of the party? The issue of phone numbers?

6. Elsa, her life, the affair, her former husband and the law courts, her absent daughter and the relationship, the daughter at home, antagonism, sleepover with her friend? The reputation and facade, the reality of her life?

7. Pierre, married to Anne for so many years, the children at home, his relationship with them? His work in the courts, his success? His friends? The lawyer friend and the discussion about his relationship?

8. Fantasy and reality? In Pierre’s imagination? The various episodes, the encounters with Elsa, love, following her, possibilities? And the reality of this happening in his imagination as he watched her?

9. Anne, her work, antiquities, meeting Elsa, her clients? Her watching her husband and Elsa? Suspicions?

10. Elsa and her going to London for her book, the Eurostar? Pierre and his work in London? The meeting? The hotel? The outings, the meals, the adjacent rooms, the experience? How much was real? How much imagination?

11. The future, Elsa and her relationship with the young man? Pierre, his marriage, his being unsettled, possibilities for resolution?