Victoria, a little black girl aged 8 from a humble background, happens to spend the night with the bourgeois family of Thomas, one of her classmates. Years later, they see each other again and Marie is the fruit of their fleeting relationship. But Victoria decides not to tell Thomas and raises her child alone. When Marie turns seven, Victoria decides that her daughter must have a better future and again turns to this family that she lost sight of long ago.
Reviews
The double meaning in this film makes it well-worth seeing. Based on a story by Doris Lessing, it probes the life of Victoria, a French-born woman of African ancestry who gives birth to a daughter by Thomas, a white Frenchman who is the scion of a left-wing but rich Parisian family. Far from being racist, the rich family rejoices in their newly-found grand daughter and showers her with gifts and affection, much to Victoria's discomfort. By inviting us to tease out the reason for Victoria's alienation, director Civeyrac offers an analysis of racial conflicts in modern Europe.Or does he? Perhaps there is a different way to look at Victoria's life. There is little overt racism in the film. Victoria's best friend (also black, and the narrator of the film) bounds through college, lands a perfect job as a reader for a publisher and moves easily through the mixed race society of Paris. Watch the film carefully and you might discover more reasons for Victoria's pain than the colour of her skin.
It's a very atypical movie, it might not sound like it is in the premise but this film is unusual. Victoria is a peculiar character, very calm, doesn't speak much, stares at people and things. A very introverted character. Victoria's been through a lot and it shows. She's not all alone in the world but you really feel for her, her pain, her struggles. She has a determination that is endearing and as you see her go through life, you feel for her.The Staveneys are the stereotypical French middle-class family but it works. They feel very real and it's sometime amazing how oblivious they are. They, as much as Victoria compartmentalize a lot. I don't want to give too many spoilers you'll have to watch the movie to understand.The tone of the movie matches Victoria's awkwardness, the people surrounding her only accentuate how different and out of place she feels. The film tackles cultural and social differences with grace but it is a little insensitive. I don't know if insensitive is the right word but it's bit of a feel good movie for white people.I realize that I haven't talked about the cast but there's not much to say. Some scenes feel seriously amateurish but over all it's a nice ensemble. The movie is quirky but worth the watch.
