Les Mains libres (The Free Hands) is a 2010 French drama film directed by Brigitte Sy. It stars Ronit Elkabetz, Carlo Brandt, and Noémie Lvovsky. It was released theatrically in France on 16 June 2010. It is a feature-length prequel to Sy's 2008 short film, L'Endroit idéal.L'Endroit idéal (2008) Uni France. Retrieved on 5 July 2010
Plot
Barbara (Elkabetz) is a filmmaker developing a film written and acted by prison inmates in Paris. She defies legal boundaries, unleashing a series of consequences when she forms a deep romantic relationship with Michel (Brandt), an inmate involved in the film project.New releases Cineuropa. 16 June 2010
Cast Ronit Elkabetz as Barbara Carlo Brandt as Michel Noémie Lvovsky as Rita Camille Figuereo as Chloé Adama Doumbia as Roel Denis Maréchal as Fifi Gurgon Kyap as James Abdelhafid Metalsi as Mouloud Xavier Legrand as Laurent Ahmed M'Hemdi as Bouda François Négret as Sergueï Alain Ollivier as Le directeur de la prison Sasha Andres as Marie-Pierre Dominique Frot as La juge Brigitte Sy as Le femme blonde
Reception Thomas Baurez of L'Express, described it as "intelligent, gracious and humble.. a love story of the purest sense of the term."Les mains libres, brillant ! (Studio Ciné Live) L'Express. 15 June 2010. French Lucie Calet of Le Nouvel Observateur, continued that it is a "Greek tragedy" of "great dignity."Les Mains libres de Brigitte Sy Evene. Retrieved on 29 June. French Le Figaro praised the depiction of the tangible reality of the film as well as Eliabetz' superb and dark performance, evoking traits of the Madonna.La femme et le prisonnier Le Figaro. 16 June 2010. French
The film was warmly received by The New Yorker; "with calm and nuanced images, Sy captures emotionally unguarded characters locked in the gaze of prying eyes; with brusque, quiet action and incisive, tight-lipped dialogue, she sets a gripping plot in motion while keeping it close to the heart."Free Hands The New Yorker. Retrieved on 16 April 2011
References
External links
French radio interview with Ronit Elkabetz