Mar. 02, 2016|France|110 Min.|PG
Genre: Drama;Romance
Description: “Down by Love,” a 2016 film, tells a gripping story inspired by a real-life incident from a prison in Versailles in 2011. The movie explores a complex and unexpected romance between Jean, a prison official in his late 30s, and Anna, a teenage inmate awaiting trial for a crime she committed as a minor. Despite their vastly different circumstances—Jean has a stable family life and a career, while Anna struggles with her lack of emotional resilience—the two find themselves drawn to each other.
Their relationship begins with a professional interest but quickly evolves into something deeper. Jean, who considers himself an artist, becomes oblivious to the ethical boundaries he crosses, showing blatant favoritism toward Anna. Their affair sparks gossip among inmates and staff, yet Jean remains unaware of the consequences of his actions.
The film portrays their connection as genuine, devoid of manipulation or exploitation. Anna is not depicted as a seductress, nor is Jean portrayed as selfish. Instead, both characters are sincere in their pursuit of happiness, even if their aspirations are misguided. The irony lies in the possibility that Jean’s actions could lead to his own imprisonment, highlighting the severe repercussions of his choices.
“Down by Love” offers a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of love, ethics, and the consequences of crossing societal boundaries.
Cast director: Pierre Godeau
Cast actor: Guillaume Gallienne, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Stéphanie Cléau, Aliénor Poisson, Cyrielle Martinez, Selma Mansouri, Sabila Moussadek, Marie Rivière, Stéphane Roquet, Anne Loiret
Original name: Éperdument