Tonight on TV: Failure to Come Out This sweet romantic comedy deserves a second chance

Directed by Four Hands, Maria Reve (2022) is the first feature film by screenwriter-director duo Lorient Escaffrey and Yves Muller after several acclaimed short films, including Pile Poil, an award-winning work at the Alpe Comedy Festival. Huez, César laureate for best short film 2020.

For this first foray into the big screen, the pair set out to highlight an invisible character, give way to an over-50 heroine (for more feminism and equality) and step in front of the camera. A little cameo!

The film tells the story of Maria, a lonely, reserved and awkward housewife, married for 25 years, who never leaves her flowery notebook – the very one in which she writes her little personal poems.

Committed to a fine arts school, he then experiences a new world in which creativity is encouraged, where freedom reigns and where boldness is required. There she especially meets Hubert, the cheerful and whimsical caretaker of the place: so much that will turn upside down the life of the intelligent Maria, who could well taste her own freedom and allow herself to be carried away. There are new emotions and revelations about yourself, art and life.

Captivating characters, a delicate romance, a certain dreamlike quality, careful writing and unique visuals: welcome to Maria rêve, a sweet and inventive sentimental comedy that lets you escape.

Overlooked (only 135,462 people saw the film when it was released), the story of naive Maria’s late emancipation is nevertheless useful and necessary, of rare delicacy and beauty.

Full of poetry, tenderness and humor, the film is a spectacle of love in the midst of works of art that provokes reflection and emancipation and that deserves, like its protagonist, a second chance.

The feature film has a quality of foregrounding characters rarely seen in cinema: the main character is also inspired by the quiet and intelligent grandmother of Lorraine Escafari’s housekeeper. But this is not the only thing that inspired the filmmakers for this project: the school of fine arts itself is the place where the idea for the film was born. The contrast between ordinary and extraordinary art does not lack originality.

Starring the haunting and luminous Karin Viard and the delicate Grigory Gadebois, the film speaks of the pursuit of happiness and personal fulfillment and chooses simple and beautiful moments for conviction. Charming and magical, Maria dreams and so do we.

By Maria Reve, Lorient Escafre and Ivo Muller, with Karin Viard, Grigory Gadebois, Noé Abita…

from the age of 10

Tonight on CANAL+ at 21:10.