Mémoire De Fille
A poignant French drama based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by the French Nobel Prize winner Annie Ernaux, about a defining moment in her life: her first – and far from tender – sexual experience at a summer camp.
Seventeen-year-old Annie wants to break free from her smalltown existence in the French countryside. She takes a job as a counsellor at a summer camp, determined to gain new experiences and push her boundaries. But reality turns out differently. Among the other counsellors, Annie stands out for her innocence and naivety, which soon makes her a target. The slightly older, attractive head counsellor manages to seduce her into sleeping with him. It is Annie’s first sexual experience, but her loss of virginity is anything but tender.
The experience continues to haunt her for decades, and the shame and humiliation leave deep scars. By revisiting her past, Annie tries to better understand the girl she once was, and to discover how memories can take such a lasting hold.
Following its premiere in the Un Certain Regard competition at Cannes, Mémoire De Fille was praised for its psychological depth, strong performances and honest portrayal of a defining moment in a young woman’s life. This poignant coming-of-age drama was directed by Judith Godrèche, one of the champions of the French #MeToo movement. Among other things, she has spoken out publicly about sexual misconduct by various French filmmakers.
Written by BW