GILLES' WIFE
[La Femme de Gilles]

In a 1930s mining town, Emmanuelle Devos takes care of her two children and adores her husband Clovis Cornillac, whose return from work in the blast furnaces is the highlight of each day. Younger sister Laura Smet often visits the household to lend a hand, as the very pregnant Devos awaits the birth of her third child. But something about the way her husband looks at her sister isn't right. Gorgeously lit and lensed, with a powerful performance by Devos--conveying emotions both raw and subtle--this is a distinguished film by the director of A PORNOGRAPHIC AFFAIR. Prizewinner at recent Venice, Istanbul and Mar del Plata film festivals; Best Director and Screenplay, Belgium's Joseph Plateau awards.

DIR Frédéric Fonteyne; SCR Philippe Blasband, Marion Hänsel and Frédéric Fonteyne, from the novel by Madeleine Bourdouxhe; PROD Patrick Quinet and Claude Waringo. Belgium/France/Luxembourg/Italy/Switzerland, 2004, color, 108 min. In French with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Director Frédéric Fonteyne describes his starting point in translating Madeleine Bourdouxhe's richly visual writing to the screen:

"My starting point was the decision not to use any flashbacks, even though they exist in the novel, and to avoid voice-over. I wanted the audience to follow step-by-step what happens to Elisa, to perceive everything from her point of view. I met Madeleine Bourdouxhe's daughter, who held the rights to the book, to explain my approach. As well as the desire to adapt the story, I felt a sort of responsibility for this creation. It was the first time I had adapted a novel, and I asked myself, 'Will making a film alter the book's vision? Should novels be filmed? Shouldn't a novel one loves remain a novel?' I convinced myself that this particular book, with the power of its writing, its narrative density, was indestructible."

Screening sponsored by Midtown Bethesda North, A KSI Community.

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