French screenwriter and director Alice Winocour brings one woman’s profound story of trauma and healing in “Revoir Paris” (“Paris Memories”). Winocour brings a profoundly personal story to the screen. Winacour’s brother, who was in the 2015 terror attacks in Paris in which 137 people lost their lives, inspires the film.
César winner Virginie Efira takes on the lead role, starring as Mia. She’s a Russian translator who inadvertently becomes a victim of a deadly terrorist attack after seeking refuge from heavy rain in a Parisian restaurant. Three months later, Mia is still reeling from the physical and emotional scars left behind by the attack. She struggles to recall what happened during the attack. Determined to recover her memory from that night and move on, Mia travels multiple paths. She bonds with fellow survivors like Thomas (Benoît Magimel) and family members of the deceased like Félicia (Nastya Golubeva).
Virginie Efira and Benoît Magimel Deliver Delicate and Multi-Layered Performances
Within those bonds, she faces her own emotions and traumatic memories of the attack. Mia attempts to find the man who helped her escape the attack by hiding with her. These paths take her on an emotional, healing journey that will help her move on with her life after it was put on pause by the attack. Virginie Efira delivers a layered, delicate performance as Mia that brilliantly powers the film forward. Her stellar performance as a woman haunted by her experiences anchors the film and brings home the intricate emotions on-screen throughout the 105 minutes. Alongside Efira, César winner Benoît Magimel gives an equally strong performance as he and Efira’s characters begin to bond over their shared experiences of the attack.
Virginie Efira in Revoir Paris (Photo: Music Box Films).
His portrayal allows audiences to see other perspectives of the attacks. Magimel’s character still suffers from the physical injuries he sustained that night. Efira and Magimel’s performances gel well together. They form a unique friendship between the characters. However, unfortunately, it becomes an unnecessary and contrived romance in the film’s final scenes. “Revoir Paris” also shows how victims’ loved ones are affected by events like this. You can see this in Grégoire Colin’s performance as Vincent, Mia’s partner. Even if he’s not featured much in the film, his portrayal shows how people ner the victims also struggle to move on after such traumatic experiences. And it can end up inadvertently treating their partner differently. This might end with frustration induced by constantly being shut out as they attempt to heal.
Intricate (and Personal) Direction from Alice Winocour
Alice Winocour puts in a terrific directorial effort. She brings an intricate portrayal of one woman’s emotional turmoil. Winocour forces herself to sift through her scattered memory. She deals with those haunting emotions. She handles this complex, emotionally heavy story with the care and delicacy needed for this story. Writers Marcia Romano and Jean Stéphane Bron collaborate with Winocour on a screenplay that seamlessly translates from page to screen. It doesn’t suffer from feeling uneven or overstuffed. The film covers a plethora of themes throughout. There’s the power and healing aspect of human connection to the physical, mental, as well as emotional impact terrorism has on its victims. In addition, Winocour explores how survivors are haunted by what they saw even months after the attack.
One of the most devastating parts of the film comes when a fellow female survivor causes Mia of locking others outside the bathroom during the attack. Later in the movie, the survivor apologizes to Mia as she reveals that she set the locks. “Revoir Paris” is a film fuelled by its profound and deeply powerful emotion as Alice Winocour delivers audiences a complex story of trauma, healing, and connection wrapped up in a neat 105-minute run-time with a mostly satisfying ending.
The film’s intricate story is bolstered by the stellar performances given by the cast. But Virginie Efira stands out amongst them with her impressive and compelling portrayal of Mia. In conclusion, Winocour crafts a sincere film that allows audiences to see just the kind of impact, physical and emotional, that terrorism has on its victims and the lengthy healing process that comes after it.
“Revoir Paris” is now playing in select theaters across the U.S. and U.K.
