“Madeleine Collins 2021” is a psychological thriller about a woman who loses her grip on reality. Madeleine sees herself as an empty vessel, floating through life without purpose. She becomes convinced that her husband is trying to poison her, and that the only way to escape his grasp is to disappear. As she retreats into her own mind, the lines between what’s real and what’s imagined blur together in unsettling ways. The film is a haunting exploration of identity, paranoia, and the dangers of self-delusion.
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Review
As a vulnerability and bravery researcher, I am always on the lookout for stories that showcase the power of staying true to oneself and taking risks. That’s why I was thrilled to stumble upon the indie film “Madeleine Collins,” a French drama that explores the complexities of gender identity and family relationships.
At its core, “Madeleine Collins” is a story about a middle-aged woman named Madeleine who begins to identify as a man named Elliot. While this may seem like a straightforward premise, the film deftly navigates the emotional toll that transitioning takes on not just Elliot but also their wife, children, and extended family.
The film opens with Madeleine returning from a trip abroad and announcing to her family that she wants to start hormone therapy and pursue surgery to become Elliot. What follows is an honest portrayal of the various reactions to this revelation – some characters are supportive, some are skeptical, and others are outright hostile.
One of the film’s strengths is its ability to show how gender identity intersects with other aspects of identity, such as age and class. Madeleine’s upper-middle-class family struggles to grasp what it means for their father figure to become a man – they worry about what their friends will think and whether Elliot will still be able to provide for them financially. Meanwhile, Madeleine’s elderly mother grapples with her own mortality and what it means for her son to be undergoing such a drastic transformation.
Throughout the film, we see Elliot grappling with his own sense of self – he tries on different hairstyles and clothing styles in an attempt to find his true identity. Actor Virginie Efira gives an incredible performance as both Madeleine and Elliot – she conveys the complexity of her character’s emotions without ever resorting to caricature or stereotype.
Another standout performance comes from actor Martin Compston, who plays Madeleine/Elliot’s son Pierre. Pierre embodies many of the conflicting emotions that come with having a parent who is transitioning: he’s fiercely protective of his mother as Madeleine but feels like his father figure is disappearing as Elliot. Compston brings a raw vulnerability to the role that makes his character both sympathetic and multifaceted.
One of the most moving scenes in the film comes near the end, when Madeleine/Elliot attends a support group for trans people. The room is filled with people of all ages and walks of life, each one struggling to make sense of their own gender identity. In this moment, Madeleine/Elliot realizes that they are not alone – that there are others out there who understand what it feels like to be trapped in the wrong body.
The film’s score, composed by Olivier Marguerit, perfectly complements the emotional weight of each scene. Marguerit employs haunting melodies and sparse instrumentation to convey both sadness and hopefulness.
“Madeleine Collins” has received critical acclaim at various film festivals around the world, including Cannes and Toronto. It’s not hard to see why – director Antoine Barraud has crafted a masterpiece that does justice to such an important topic.
Of course, no film is without its flaws – some viewers might find certain scenes repetitive or slow-paced. However, these minor quibbles do not detract from the overall impact of “Madeleine Collins.”
In many ways, this film mirrors my own research on vulnerability and resilience. It shows how difficult it can be to embrace one’s authentic self in a world that often resists change and authenticity. But it also shows how much strength it takes to stay true to oneself despite those obstacles.
If you’re looking for a thought-provoking film that will stay with you long after the credits roll, I highly recommend “Madeleine Collins.” It’s a stunning achievement in filmmaking that deserves all the accolades it has received so far – and then some.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 102
- Release : 2021-07-21
- Genre : Drama, Thriller
- Cast : Virginie Efira as Judith Fauvet, Bruno Salomone as Melvil Fauvet, Quim Gutiérrez as Abdel Soriano, Jacqueline Bisset as Patty, Nadav Lapid as Kurt
- Crew : Katia Wyszkop as Production Design, Arlette Zylberberg as Co-Producer, Jürg Lempen as Sound, Héléna Klotz as Writer, Justin Taurand as Executive Producer
- Popularity 8.973
- Budget : 0
- Revenue : 0
- Company : Les films du Bélier, Frakas Productions, Close Up Films
- Summary : Judith leads a double life between Switzerland and France. On the one hand Abdel, with whom she is raising a little girl, on the other Melvil with whom she has two older boys. Little by little, this fragile balance, made up of lies, secrets and back and forth, cracks dangerously. Trapped, Judith chooses to head forward, at the risk of losing everything.
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