For crisp tension or thematic clarity, nothing in “The Balconettes” quite outdoes the nearly self-contained, minutes-long short that opens actor-director Noémie Merlant’s frenzied, heatstruck genre mashup. On a 115-degree summer afternoon in a wilting, AC-challenged Marseilles apartment block, a put-upon middle-aged wife passes out on her balcony. Roused with a splash of water by her boorish husband, who demands she get back to her chores, the poor woman breaks: Getting to her feet, she whacks him unconscious with a steel dustpan, smothers him with a towel, and sits on him for good measure until all life seeps out of his body. With not a scrap of backstory required, this immensely satisfying vignette earns the film an early round of cheers.
That’s the last we see of this character’s plight, save for a brief shot later of her being led away from the building by police. (Cue some...
That’s the last we see of this character’s plight, save for a brief shot later of her being led away from the building by police. (Cue some...
- 5/21/2024
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
Noemie Merlant’s sophomore feature “The Balconettes” plays as a raunchy horror-comedy with a greater social conscience. The film follows three roommates – an actress, played by Merlant, a camgirl played by “Dune: Part Two” breakout Souheila Yacoub and a frustrated writer played Sanda Condreanu – who are initially infatuated and eventually repelled by a lothario neighbor from across the yard. Exploring questions of coercion and consent with a healthy dose of blood and guts, “The Balconettes” wants to entertain and energize in equal measure.
Variety spoke with the filmmaker ahead of her film’s world premiere in Cannes.
How did this film come about?
Four years ago, I found myself escaping from a daily life that was suffocating. I went to live with women, with friends of mine, including Sanda Codreanu, who stars in the film. This was the first time I’d lived with other women, and the first time...
Variety spoke with the filmmaker ahead of her film’s world premiere in Cannes.
How did this film come about?
Four years ago, I found myself escaping from a daily life that was suffocating. I went to live with women, with friends of mine, including Sanda Codreanu, who stars in the film. This was the first time I’d lived with other women, and the first time...
- 5/18/2024
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
The entire film industry is soon to descend upon the Côte d’Azur this May as the Cannes Film Festival readies for its 77th edition. From May 14 through May 25, the iconic festival event of the year will host much-awaited new works for auteurs and rising directors alike, across sections like the Competition, Directors’ Fortnight, Un Certain Regard (with jury president Xavier Dolan), and Critics’ Week. Major prizes will come at the end of the festival, and will no doubt set the tone for the movie year ahead.
Such was the case last year when Justine Triet’s eventual Oscar winner “Anatomy of a Fall” took home the top award, the Palme d’Or, the fourth consecutive film distributed by Neon to do so. Jonathan Glazer’s 2023 Grand Prize winner “The Zone of Interest” also won two Academy Awards, while Competition entries “Perfect Days” and “May December” earned Oscar nominations, too.
Such was the case last year when Justine Triet’s eventual Oscar winner “Anatomy of a Fall” took home the top award, the Palme d’Or, the fourth consecutive film distributed by Neon to do so. Jonathan Glazer’s 2023 Grand Prize winner “The Zone of Interest” also won two Academy Awards, while Competition entries “Perfect Days” and “May December” earned Oscar nominations, too.
- 3/27/2024
- by Ryan Lattanzio, Kate Erbland and David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Noémie Merlant, the French actor of “Tár,” is reteaming with Celine Sciamma, who directed her in “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” for her sophomore outing, “The Balconettes.”
The fantastical comedy horror movie is being written by Merlant with the collaboration of Céline Sciamma. MK2 Films will launch sales at the Cannes Film Market. Filming is slated to begin this summer.
Set in a boiling Marseille neighborhood plagued by a heat wave, the movie revolves around three roommates who gleefully meddle in the lives of their neighbors from their balcony. Until a late-night drink turns into a bloody affair. Sometimes gory, sometimes brazen, always playful. Merlant stars in the film alongside Souheila Yacoub (“Dune 2”) and Sanda Codreanu (“Mi Iubita Mon Amour”).
Merlant, who won this year’s Cesar Award for her role in Louis Garrel’s “The Innocent,” made her feature debut as a director with “Mi Iubita Mon Amour” which played at Cannes,...
The fantastical comedy horror movie is being written by Merlant with the collaboration of Céline Sciamma. MK2 Films will launch sales at the Cannes Film Market. Filming is slated to begin this summer.
Set in a boiling Marseille neighborhood plagued by a heat wave, the movie revolves around three roommates who gleefully meddle in the lives of their neighbors from their balcony. Until a late-night drink turns into a bloody affair. Sometimes gory, sometimes brazen, always playful. Merlant stars in the film alongside Souheila Yacoub (“Dune 2”) and Sanda Codreanu (“Mi Iubita Mon Amour”).
Merlant, who won this year’s Cesar Award for her role in Louis Garrel’s “The Innocent,” made her feature debut as a director with “Mi Iubita Mon Amour” which played at Cannes,...
- 5/10/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Noemie Merlant, the rising French star of Celine Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” and Jacques Audiard’s “Paris, 13th District” (pictured), is reteaming with Pierre Guyard at Nord-Ouest Films to develop her sophomore feature, “Les Femmes au balcon.”
Merlant made her feature debut with “Mi Iubita, Mon Amour” which world premiered in the special screenings section at this year’s Cannes and is playing at San Sebastian Film Festival.
Set over the course of three days, “Les Femmes au balcon” is a high-concept film following three women in Marseille, Southern France, during a heat wave. Across the street, their mysterious neighbor is the object of all their fantasies. But suddenly, they find themselves trapped in a terrifying and crazy situation with one goal in mind. To set themselves free.
Guyard, who produced ” “Mi Iubita Mon Amour,” said he was looking forward to continue working with Merlant whom...
Merlant made her feature debut with “Mi Iubita, Mon Amour” which world premiered in the special screenings section at this year’s Cannes and is playing at San Sebastian Film Festival.
Set over the course of three days, “Les Femmes au balcon” is a high-concept film following three women in Marseille, Southern France, during a heat wave. Across the street, their mysterious neighbor is the object of all their fantasies. But suddenly, they find themselves trapped in a terrifying and crazy situation with one goal in mind. To set themselves free.
Guyard, who produced ” “Mi Iubita Mon Amour,” said he was looking forward to continue working with Merlant whom...
- 9/23/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Films Boutique has closed several key European territories on “Mi Iubita, Mon Amour,” the feature debut of actor-turned-filmmaker Noémie Merlant which is playing at San Sebastian in the Zabaltegi Tabakalera section.
“Mi Iubita, Mon Amour” world premiered at Cannes in Special Screenings. It stars Merlant as Jeanne, a young woman who is traveling to Romania to celebrate her bachelorette party with her friends when she meets Nino. She is 27, he is 17, and they are worlds away from one another, yet for the two of them it is the beginning of a passionate and timeless summer. Merlant stars opposite Gimi Covaci and Clara Lama-Schmit.
The movie has been acquired by Triart in Sweden at San Sebastian. The deal was negotiated by Films Boutique’s head of sales Julien Razafindranaly and Matthias Nohrborg at Triart. “Mi Iubita, Mon Amour” has also been picked up by Barton Films in Spain and Agora Films in Switzerland.
“Mi Iubita, Mon Amour” world premiered at Cannes in Special Screenings. It stars Merlant as Jeanne, a young woman who is traveling to Romania to celebrate her bachelorette party with her friends when she meets Nino. She is 27, he is 17, and they are worlds away from one another, yet for the two of them it is the beginning of a passionate and timeless summer. Merlant stars opposite Gimi Covaci and Clara Lama-Schmit.
The movie has been acquired by Triart in Sweden at San Sebastian. The deal was negotiated by Films Boutique’s head of sales Julien Razafindranaly and Matthias Nohrborg at Triart. “Mi Iubita, Mon Amour” has also been picked up by Barton Films in Spain and Agora Films in Switzerland.
- 9/20/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The strand features titles from Cannes, Berlin and Venice.
Features by Joanna Hogg, Radu Jude and Gaspar Noé are among those set to compete for the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera award at this year’s San Sebastian Film Festival (September 17-25).
The strand, for films of any kind of style or length, includes 13 features and five shorts, with two world premieres.
The selection includes several titles from this year’s Cannes film festival: Kirill Serebrennikov’s Competition title Petrov’s Flu; Kira Kovalenko’s Un Certain Regard winner Unclenching The Fists; Laura Wandel’s Playground (also Un Certain Regard); Gasper Noe’s Vortex, which...
Features by Joanna Hogg, Radu Jude and Gaspar Noé are among those set to compete for the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera award at this year’s San Sebastian Film Festival (September 17-25).
The strand, for films of any kind of style or length, includes 13 features and five shorts, with two world premieres.
The selection includes several titles from this year’s Cannes film festival: Kirill Serebrennikov’s Competition title Petrov’s Flu; Kira Kovalenko’s Un Certain Regard winner Unclenching The Fists; Laura Wandel’s Playground (also Un Certain Regard); Gasper Noe’s Vortex, which...
- 8/19/2021
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
After breaking out in Céline Sciamma’s dazzling Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Noémie Merlant has gone on to collaborate with Zoé Wittock, Jacques Audiard, and André Téchiné––and even direct her own feature, Mi iubita, mon amour, which just premiered at Cannes Film Festival. Now, Curiosa––a period romance that premiered in France just before her breakthrough role––will finally be coming to U.S. shores beginning August 13 via Film Movement and we’re pleased to debut the exclusive trailer.
Lou Jeunet’s romantic drama is set in 1895 Paris, following Pierre Louÿs, a Parisian dandy and poet on the verge of fame. Pierre and his friend Henri De Régnier are both madly in love with Marie de Heredia (Merlant), the cheeky daughter of their mentor. Despite her feelings for Pierre, Marie eventually marries Henri who has a better situation. Badly hurt, Pierre leaves for Algeria where he meets Zohra,...
Lou Jeunet’s romantic drama is set in 1895 Paris, following Pierre Louÿs, a Parisian dandy and poet on the verge of fame. Pierre and his friend Henri De Régnier are both madly in love with Marie de Heredia (Merlant), the cheeky daughter of their mentor. Despite her feelings for Pierre, Marie eventually marries Henri who has a better situation. Badly hurt, Pierre leaves for Algeria where he meets Zohra,...
- 7/29/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Two years ago, Noémie Merlant wowed audiences with her incredible performance as the lead actress in “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” The film would premiere to rapturous reviews and go on to dominate many critics’ top ten lists at the year’s end. And for Merlant, it served as a breakout performance that made film fans take notice and look out for everything she might have coming up. That brings us to 2021 and yet another major Cannes debut for Merlant, the new feature “Mi Iubita Mon Amour.”
Read More: Cannes Film Festival 2021 Preview: 25 Films To Watch
Debuting at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, “Mi Iubita Mon Amour” isn’t just another showcase of Merlant’s acting ability, but it’s also her directorial debut, which she co-wrote alongside Gimi-Nicole Covaci.
Continue reading ‘Mi Iubita Mon Amour’ Exclusive Clip: Noémie Merlant Directs & Stars In This Cannes Romantic Drama at The Playlist.
Read More: Cannes Film Festival 2021 Preview: 25 Films To Watch
Debuting at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, “Mi Iubita Mon Amour” isn’t just another showcase of Merlant’s acting ability, but it’s also her directorial debut, which she co-wrote alongside Gimi-Nicole Covaci.
Continue reading ‘Mi Iubita Mon Amour’ Exclusive Clip: Noémie Merlant Directs & Stars In This Cannes Romantic Drama at The Playlist.
- 7/12/2021
- by Charles Barfield
- The Playlist
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