We may think we know our loved ones’ deepest impulses, but how well can you ever know the dark parts of someone’s mind? That’s the experience of Lucy (Lea Seydoux), a pianist and mother to a young son, who agrees to move to the country when her husband Philip (Laurence Rupp) complains that he’s burnt out. Burnt out, yes, but also immersed in a secret online life that’s both haunting and criminal. When Philip is arrested for dealing in child exploitation materials, it’s more than Lucy can fathom. Meanwhile, the lead investigator in the case, Elsa (Jella Haase), is struggling with revelations of her own about her elderly father.
Austrian filmmaker Marie Kreutzer (Corsage) squares up to this challenging material with palpable conviction, and has found the perfect collaborator in the remarkable Seydoux, who gives us a finely etched portrait of a woman whose life is crumbling before her eyes. Somehow, Lucy must find the courage to face up to the truth — not only about Philip, but also about herself.
Showcase Series Supported by
Lea Seydoux, Catherine Deneuve
France
2026
In German, English, and French with English subtitles
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Credits & Director
Executive Producer
Naomi Despres, Michèle Marshall, Nathanaël Karmitz, Fionnuala Jamison, Andrea Scarso, Timo Argillander, Kristina Börjeson, Sarah Nagel, Isabell Wiegand
Producer
Alexander Glehr, Johanna Scherz, Jonas Dornbach, Janine Jackowski, Maren Ade, Jean-Christophe Reymond, Marie Kjellson
Screenwriter
Marie Kreutzer
Cinematography
Judith Kaufmann
Editor
Ulrike Kofler
Production Design
Myrna Wolf
Original Music
Camille
Marie Kreutzer
Marie Kreutzer is an Austrian filmmaker. Her sixth film Gentle Monster, starring Léa Seydoux, premiered in Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival and will be released by Netflix. It was produced by Film AG and Komplizen Films. Kreutzer’s previous film CORSAGE, Austria’s 2023 official country selection, also premiered at Cannes, earning Vicky Krieps Best Performance in Un Certain Regard.
Filmography: The Fatherless (2011); The Ground Beneath My Feet (2019); Corsage (2022)
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