Directed by: Rebecca Zlotowski
Written by: Rebecca Zlotowski, Anne Berest and Gaëlle Macé
Run Time: 1 hour 43 mins
Double Oscar-winner Jodie Foster has frequented French cinema several times throughout her long-standing career. In her early years, she had a small role in Fleur Bleu (1977) and then she went on to have more prominent supporting roles in war dramas The Blood of Others (1984) and A Very Long Engagement (2004). Now, over twenty years after her last French role, she’s taking on her first leading performance in the language in Rebecca Zlotowski’s mystery drama A Private Life.
She plays respected psychiatrist Lilian Steiner, who after learning of the death of one of her patients, Paula (Virginie Efira) takes matters into her own hands, investigating the mysterious circumstances around her passing. Her enquiries direct her primarily towards Paula’s husband Simon (Mathieu Amalric), while she simultaneously recruits her own ex-husband, Gabriel (Daniel Auteuil) to assist her with the investigation.
With any whodunit it’s crucial that not only the central mystery is compelling, but that the sleuth investigating it also has a level of intrigue themselves. And while Foster’s psychiatrist-turned-detective presents an interesting set up, her character is simply too nondescript to take advantage of this context. The screenplay insists that she’s overly sure of herself and fails to properly listen to those around her, and even on occasion, her patients. The latter becomes clear, more so in her family life than in her professional career, but the former is never distinct enough to become a recognisable character trait, leaving Lilian as a rather unremarkable protagonist, despite Foster’s best efforts.
Sadly, the same can be said for the central mystery too, as with only two viable suspects it’s hardly a thrilling case. Of course not being an actual detective, Lilian’s investigative skills aren’t particularly impressive. She actually makes most headway after a hypnosis session, one that she only attends in an effort to debunk the claims of another of her ex-patients. The over-reliance on this element, rather than any real detective work reveals the disappointing lack of intricacy present in this mystery. One that could have been improved with greater integration of Lilian’s sessions with Paula. These are briefly utilised via flashback sequences, allowing Virginie Efira to give the character her own voice. However, these moments are used far too sparingly to have any real impact, instead demonstrating only how the film ultimately wastes Efira’s talents.
Not compelling enough in its plot then, A Private Life actually has much more potential as a comedy. To begin with the humour it plays with is mostly present in throwaway lines and fleeting moments, but it quietly constructs one rather amusing comedic set-piece during a family dinner party. It’s here, for the first and perhaps only time, where things really seem to come together, offering a delightfully dysfunctional edge to the drama which, up until this point, has felt mostly dull and drab. Elsewhere, as Lilian’s ex-husband, Daniel Auteuil does his best to keep things amusing. He’s the only cast member who really shines, overcompensating for the lack of appeal in Foster’s leading role with a lively mischief that the film relies on to remain even remotely engaging.
So rather than become a fully-fledged comedy or an enthralling murder mystery, A Private Life instead opts to offer audiences a curious character study into a protagonist that doesn’t have enough dimension to warrant the attention. So while Foster’s French may be fluent, this odd and underdeveloped genre mashup is as incoherent as they come.
Star Rating: ★ ★
Not Too Loud 
Leave a comment