An Aissa Maiga project I’m only just learning about, likely because it’s a made-for-French TV film, and it’s scheduled to premiere on France 2, on June 19, at 8:40 pm.
English-language info on the telefilm isn’t available, so I’m using my trusty Google translator to assist.
Titled Mortel été, which translates to Deadly Summer, the film follows Julie (played by Maiga), a 30-something woman, living in a hot Southern France locale, who feels trapped in her current marriage, and secretly plans to leave her unadventurous, dull husband, Simon (Bruno Solo), to follow Louis (Nicolas Gob), her lover, whom she thinks will take her away and bring some excitement to her life. But when Louis suddenly disappears, he’s believed to have been murdered, although his body is nowhere to be found, and Julie finds herself in the middle of a dark criminal case that involves an illegal gambling ring run by Louis brother, Eric, and Fred, a newcomer who just arrived in town.
That’s all I was able to get from the messy translation.
Ahead of its June 19 premiere, one review called it “beautiful and provocative,” another described it as being in “the tradition of film noir,” and another says it’s a “stylistic exercise, successful, thanks especially to the actors, sober and compelling,” with direction from Denis Malleval, and a script penned by Johanne Rigoulot.
No full trailer available Stateside, but I was able to dig up 2 short clips, which, as you’d probably expect, aren’t subtitled.
For our readers in France, the film airs on France 2 on June 19, at 8:40pm. Maybe we’ll get a review from one of you.
Watch both clips below:
