LE RAVISSEMENT/ THE RAPTURE

France, 2023, 97 minutes, Colour.

Hafsia Herzi, Alexis Manenti, Nina Meurisse.

Directed by Iris Kaltenback.

The Rapture has many meanings in English, especially with faithful believers being taken up from Perth in The Rapture? However, the French title indicates a fascination, wonder.

The story is set in Paris, strong on atmosphere, the streets, bus routes, hospitals, the work of a midwife. However, while writer and director, Iris Kaltenback, is female and this is very much a female character study and perspective, the voice-over is by a male character.

The focus is on Lydia, played with complex verve by Hafsia Herzi. Enthusiastic, she discovers her boyfriend walking out on her. She goes to a party for her friend who reveals that she is pregnant. They have known each other since school days, bonded, strong friendship, knowing each other well. Lydia then is able to help and encourage Salome during the pregnancy.

Depressed with the breakup, Lydia wanders Paris, eventually going to sleep on a bus, encountering the driver (the company prefers “operator”), Milos from Serbia. He is reserved but they talk, have a one night stand, his not wanting to take it further.

There is a graphic birth sequence, hard for Salome, Lydia insistent, cajoling, encouraging. While Lydia says her care as a midwife is for the mothers rather than for the children, she becomes more and more attached to Salome’s daughter, suggesting the name Esmee, meaning Loved, taking the baby out, more frequent outings, but further complications when she encounters Milos at her hospital visiting his sick father, he thinking the baby is hers and she confirming, then telling him that it is his.

Milos becomes more and more attached, relishing being a father, Lydia arranging a weekly time when she is caring for the baby for them to meet. And invites them to meet his parents – which becomes too much for Lydia.

Ultimately, this is a story of an abduction, a rapture on the part of Lydia, but her eventually having to acknowledge the truth and surrender the baby to her mother. There is a trial, anticipated in the voice-over by Milos, the prison sentence, and her finally getting out – towards what future?

1. The title, wonder, enthusiasm, fascination? Lydia and her preoccupation with Esmee? The consequences?
2. The Paris settings, the initial drive through the streets, ordinary life, Milos and his voice-over, his perspective, narrating Lydia’s story, the puzzle, referring to the trial, the audience anticipating something going wrong?
3. Lydia, age, experience, skill as a midwife, arriving home, the cake, enthusiasm, Julien leaving her? The party, her relationship with Salome? The conversation, the revelation of the pregnancy?
4. The pregnancy, Salome and Jonathan, personalities, Lydia and her continued help, ultrasound, advice, massage…? Her continuing her work?
5. Her moods, disappointment, the apartment, not going home, asleep on the bus, the encounter with Milos, tentative, talk, sharing experiences, the night together, Milos wanting to end the relationship, her persevering, calls?
6. The intensity of the birth sequence, the strain for Salome, Jonathan present, Lydia and her insistence, encouragement, the baby tired, Salome pushing? The eventual birth? Hesitation, the child crying, tending the baby?
7. Lydia, saying she cared for the mothers rather than for the children, preoccupation with Esmee, the name? Loved?
8. The development of the relationship between Lydia and the baby, taking her out, feeding her, the attachment? Her seeing Milos in the hospital for his father? Telling him the baby was hers? Following him, telling him the baby was his? The consequences?
9. The development of the attachment, concealing it from Salome, Salome and her postnatal depression, and the longtime bond from Lydia from school? The strong friendship? Jonathan and his wariness?
10. The effect on Milos, the outings, his voice-over, not expecting to be a father, the attachment, taking Lydia and the baby to meet his family, the meal, the reactions, his mother intervening with questions, his father after his illness, the impact on Lydia, retreating to the bathroom, deciding to leave?
11. Salome upset, Lydia’s explanations? The issue of moving to Brussels, Jonathan and the better money? Salome and her work, Lydia encouraged her to stay?
12. The decision, Lydia listening outside the door, making a decision as regards the baby?
13. Less access to the baby, her going to the centre, taking it, telling Milos that she wanted to go to Normandy, the train ride, the night, the happiness?
14. Her ultimate decisions, the phone call from Salome, coming with the police, her sending Milos to buy the milk and to wait at the station, the interaction with Salome, giving back the baby? The police? The arrest of Milos, the interrogations?
15. Milos and the description of the trial, the psychologists and their opinion about Lydia, manipulative or with a mental problem? Her going to jail?
16. Milos and the meeting with Salome, observed by the audience outside the window?
17. Lydia, in jail, finishing her sentence, leaving, walking along the street, Milos present? A future?