MY FRIEND VICTORIA / Mon amie Victoria

 

West Coast Premiere • Drama • France, 2015

DCP • 2.35 • Dolby 5.1 • Color • 95 min

Directed by: Jean-Paul Civeyrac

Written by: Jean-Paul Civeyrac

Based on the short story by: Doris Lessing (“Victoria and the Staveneys")

Cinematography: David Chambille

Film Editing: Louise Narboni

Produced by: Philippe Martin (Les films Pelléas)

Cast: Guslagie Malanda (Victoria), Nadia Moussa (Fanny), Catherine Mouchet (Elena), Pascal Greggory (Lionel), Alexis Loret (Edouard) 

International Sales: Les Films du Losange

 

 

Adapting Nobel Prize laureate Doris Lessing’s story to modern Paris, this tale of race and privilege centers on Victoria, a disadvantaged black orphan who becomes fixated with a wealthy white family. Although Victoria spends only a single childhood night in the Savinet family’s big house, the ideal life of bourgeois comforts she imagines having there haunts her even after she has grown into beautiful young woman. As narrated by Victoria’s childhood friend Fanny, Victoria aimlessly drifts into a job at a record store. She meets Thomas Savinet, himself grown into an attractive, liberal young man.  Their brief affair results in a child, Marie. Victoria decides to raise Marie on her own, but when the Savinet’s discover her existence, they welcome the child into their family. Marie now has the chance to have the life Victoria always dreamed of, but it will come at a price.

 

Already as a student, writer/director Jean-Paul Civeyrac was fascinated with the way music, in conjunction with the sensuality of the human form, can capture elusive filmic moments that transcend the strict logic of narrative. He explored these possibilities with his first feature, Neither Adam Nor Eve (1996). In 2003 Civeyrac won the prestigious Prix Jean Vigo for his film All The Fine Promises, which he adapted with actress, novelist and former wife of Jean-Luc Godard, Anne Wiazemski, from her novel. Civeyrac has earned a reputation in France as an uncompromising director fascinated with the aesthetics of historic filmmakers. Civeyrac intermittently returns to the short film form. Over the past decade, nearly half of his films have been shorts.  He is a professor at La Femis.

 

Quotes:

“The filmmaker gets good performances out of his (…) cast, with Malanda offering up a touching portrayal.”

– Jordan Mintzer HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

“A subtle and well-observed critique on class, identity and race in Paris.”

– Wendy Okoi-Obuli INDIEWIRE