Oct. 19, 2016|France|120 Min.|R
Genre: Drama;Romance
Description: “From the Land of the Moon” (French: “Mal de pierres,” meaning “pain of the stones”) is a 2016 French drama film directed by Nicole Garcia and starring Marion Cotillard. The movie is based on the 2006 Italian novella by Milena Agus and premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, competing for the Palme d’Or. It received eight nominations at the César Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actress for Cotillard’s performance.
Set at the end of World War II, the story follows a woman who enters a marriage of convenience with a man who had shown kindness to her family during the war. Suffering from kidney stones, she travels to a luxurious clinic for treatment, where she falls in love with a veteran she meets there. After they part ways, she faces a difficult decision: whether to build a life with the man who loves her or rekindle the passionate connection she shared with the veteran during her brief time away from home.
The film garnered attention for its striking visuals and Cotillard’s compelling performance, earning several award nominations across Europe. However, it received mixed reviews from American critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 32% approval rating, with critics praising its visuals and Cotillard’s acting but criticizing its melodramatic and somewhat muddled narrative. Metacritic gave it a score of 40 out of 100, reflecting average or mixed reviews. Critics noted that while the film has moments of beauty, it struggles with stilted dialogue and an overly sentimental plot. Despite its flaws, “From the Land of the Moon” remains a visually captivating exploration of romance, self-realization, and the complexities of love.
Cast director: Nicole Garcia
Cast actor: Marion Cotillard, Louis Garrel, Àlex Brendemühl, Brigitte Roüan, Victoire Du Bois, Aloïse Sauvage, Inès Grunenwald, Jihwan Kim, Daniel Para, Ange Black-Bereyziat
Original name: Mal de pierres