Valentin Carette's debut feature follows Blandine through a short Parisian holiday during the 2024 Olympics, as her plans to watch her favorite swimmer and reconnect with her sister both fall apart. The film excels in atmosphere rather than plot—its warm, almost painterly color grading transforms chaotic Olympic Paris into a dreamlike space that mirrors Blandine's fractured emotional state. The supporting characters feel deliberately cartoonish, emphasizing Blandine's humanity against an overwhelming reality.
Blandine Madec's empathetic performance carries the film through its minimalist structure. The few scenes where she truly expresses herself—verbally or through action—hit hard precisely because of their scarcity. While the sound design fails to fully capture Paris as a living city and supporting actors lack inspiration, the film's achievements outweigh its flaws. Under 80 minutes, it offers a moving, heart-warming experience grounded in restrained writing and a truly special visual tone.
Valentin Carette's debut feature follows Blandine through a short Parisian holiday during the 2024 Olympics, as her plans to watch her favorite swimmer and reconnect with her sister both fall apart. The film excels in atmosphere rather than plot—its warm, almost painterly color grading transforms chaotic Olympic Paris into a dreamlike space that mirrors Blandine's fractured emotional state. The supporting characters feel deliberately cartoonish, emphasizing Blandine's humanity against an overwhelming reality.
Blandine Madec's empathetic performance carries the film through its minimalist structure. The few scenes where she truly expresses herself—verbally or through action—hit hard precisely because of their scarcity. While the sound design fails to fully capture Paris as a living city and supporting actors lack inspiration, the film's achievements outweigh its flaws. Under 80 minutes, it offers a moving, heart-warming experience grounded in restrained writing and a truly special visual tone.
