Dir. Thomas Kruithof, 2021, France, 98min
With Isabelle Huppert, Reda Kateb
In French with English subtitles

Nominee, Best Film, 2021 Venice Film Festival

Clémence (Isabelle Huppert), who has served as the devoted mayor of a Paris suburb, is now in her final term in office. Along with her longtime associate Yazid (Reda Kateb), she has advocated for improvements in a town ravaged by unemployment, inequality, and slumlords. But when she is approached to become Minister, her ignited ambition leads her to question the commitment to her citizens. She considers whether her desire for power will lead her to renege on election promises, destroying her integrity.

This free screening is presented in conjunction with the fall CinéSalon series, New Voices in French Cinema 2023, and FIAF’s Fall Open House.

“Huppert and Kateb form, within an impeccable cast, a duo that keeps all its promises.” — Télérama

“Jean Gabin, in ‘The President’ (1961), summed it up well: ‘Between the national interest and the breach of trust, there is a margin’. Thomas Kruithof, in an hour and a half, reminds us of this—with passion.” — L’Obs