Gentle Monster Review: A Disquieting Drama at Cannes
The Lead
Marie Kreutzer's Gentle Monster is a coldly eloquent and disquieting Franco-German drama about two women who find themselves imprisoned by a duty of care and loyalty to the men in their lives.
The Event Details
The film stars Léa Seydoux as Lucy Weiss, a French musician whose life is turned upside down when her husband Philip is investigated by the police, and Jella Haase as Elsa, a detective with the Munich police who is dealing with her own family issues.
The Character Analysis
Kreutzer cleverly invites us to compare the expressions of Philip and a suspect in another case that Elsa and her criminal division are investigating, highlighting the theme of denial and deception.
- Lucy Seydoux plays Lucy Weiss, a French musician
- Jella Haase plays Elsa, a detective with the Munich police
- Catherine Deneuve makes a cameo appearance as Lucy's mother
The Impact Analysis
The central point of the film is whether the investigation involves Lucy's son Johnny, with Philip swearing it does not but Elsa saying that one can never be sure, making the drama's agony palpable.
The Prediction
Gentle Monster screened at the Cannes film festival, showcasing its bleak and pessimistic tone with two excellent lead performances.