Dir. Sandrine Veysset, 2001, France, 97 min, 35mm, color
With Valérie Donzelli, Yann Goven, Lucie Régnier, Lydia Andreï
In French with English subtitles
Director’s Fortnight Winner, Cannes Film Festival 2001
Having received a frosty reception when visiting her parents, Martha drags her husband Reymond and infant daughter Lise to Spain, to renew her acquaintance with her estranged sister Marie. After a quarrel, Martha and her family return to France, where the young mother shows signs of increasing mental instability. With Martha in a psychiatric hospital, Reymond is left to take care of Lise alone whilst struggling to make ends meet. When Martha comes home from the hospital, the reunited family go on a holiday to the country. But Martha’s illness is far from cured…