ADN

ADN is the fifth film co-written and directed by Maïwenn after Pardonnez-moi (2006), Le Bal des actrices (2009), Polisse (2011) and Mon roi (2015) and to date its most personal. It only took one film for this actress, screenwriter and director to make a name for herself behind the camera, Polisse, and to ensure that each of her films stands out as a true cinematic event. Her new film follows in the footsteps of her previous films, an inspired direction, actors who are truly invested in their work, whose best scenes she captures with undeniable knowledge, and above all current and universal subjects that speak to all viewers.

It is easy to understand Maïwenn's desire to offer a film that resembles her, fragile, honest and inspired. In this case, we discover Neige (Maïwenn), a divorced mother of three children who regularly visits her grandfather in a retirement home. It is the latter who has watched over her and who knew how to protect her against a violent mother and a devious father. In her family, there are many personal complications and resentments as well as verbal confrontations. After a publisher was able to create a book about her grandfather to leave a trace behind, he died violently. His death brings out many conflicts and despite the help of her ex-husband, François (Louis Garrel), Neige will have to tell her mother how she feels but also settle some family scores while searching for the answer to a question that really obsesses her, what are these origins and who is she really.

Many French films have put the family at the center of their narrative and often in auteur cinema, this has given rise, as here, to many emotionally charged scenes. The great quality of director Maïwenn is to capture these intimate moments, her looks that speak volumes and above all to offer an immersive film in which everyone can identify and remember the importance of the family in our lives.

ADN may not be the best film by Maïwenn but it deserves to be in the official Cannes 2020 selection because of the vision of a committed director who does not necessarily seek to please but to approach a story that is close to her heart.

ADN
Directed by Maïwenn
Produced by Pascal Caucheteux
Written by Maïwenn, Mathieu Demy
Starring Maïwenn, Louis Garrel, Fanny Ardant, Marine Vacth, Dylan Robert, Alain Françon, Caroline Chaniolleau, Henri-Noël Tabary
Music by Stephen Warbeck
Cinematography: Sylvestre Dedise
Edited by Laure Gardette
Production companies: Why Not Productions
Distributed by Le Pacte (France), Wild Bunch Distribution (Worldwide)
Release date: October 28 2020 (France)
Running time: 90 minutes

Seen on September 11, 2020 at the Centre International de Deauville

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