Une femme d'extérieur (2000)
Directed by Christophe Blanc

Film Review

Christophe Blanc's first film received widespread critical acclaim for its frank, non-judgemental depiction of one woman's struggle to surmount a mid-life crisis.   With its raw emotions and sharp editing, the film has close similarities with the work of Maurice Pialat, and it is just as shockingly vivid and honest, watchable despite its rough and ready feel.

Blanc's comparative inexperience as a film director is all too noticeable, however.  The film's pacing is uneven, weakening the narrative and occasionally causing the viewer to lose interest.  This is however more than offset by the quality of the acting performances, particular that of Agnès Jaoui.  Although her portrayal of Françoise is far from likeable, she manages to convey vividly the sense of betrayal and resentment of a wife cheated by her husband, and the character's intertwined suffering and rebellion manage to evoke strong emotions in the spectator.

Film Synopsis

Françoise and Jacques have been together fifteen years and appear perfectly settled in their comfortable middle-class life.  They have three children, a nice house and Françoise is happy in her job as a nurse at the local hospital.  Then Françoise discovers that her husband has been unfaithful to her.  The separation is sudden and traumatic, especially for the middle-aged mother who immediately starts to undergo a dramatic personality change as a result of her altered circumstances.  Neglecting her work and her children, Françoise throws herself into a new life, a life that is more wild and sordid than she has ever known.

Freed from the straitjacket of middle-class respectability, Françoise begins behaving like a debauched adolescent.  She takes to heavy drinking and clubbing.  Unwilling to commit to a new long-term relationship, she embarks on a succession of meaningless one night stands.  Her sudden change of lifestyle is noticed by her friends and family, who all become concerned for her well-being.  But, having grown used to her new mode of existence, Françoise feels she has at last found herself and has no intention of returning to the kind of woman she once was...