L'Envol
Period drama about a young woman who must find her own way in life after World War I in Normandy.
Pietro Marcello’s (MARTIN EDEN) first feature shot outside of Italy is both a departure from and deepening of the filmmaker’s signature style. Loosely based on Russian author Alexander Grin’s SCARLET SAILS, Marcello has created a stirring ode to human resilience and endeavour. A mix of post-war grit and flights of magical realism, L’ENVOL takes place in a small village in northern France to which soldier Raphaël returns, having survived the First World War, to the devastating news that his wife has died and his infant daughter Juliette is being cared for by a tough and benevolent neighbour. The film unfolds over twenty years of Juliette’s life as the tender bond between father and daughter strengthens with each obstacle, and as the young woman’s aspirations transcend the offerings of their pastoral village. Shot on grainy Super 16mm, the film has a strange and captivating aesthetic. (source: www.tiff.net)