After Him / Après lui (2007); psychological drama French film review

Poster artwork for the French film After Him (Après lui).

Fervent Fixation by Linh

After Him (Après lui) is a character-driven film where an attraction becomes threatening and intense between two people dealing with losing someone close to them. French screen siren Catherine Deneuve plays the grieving mother Camille, who becomes fixated with clinging onto the memory of her dead son, Mathieu, through his best friend Franck. She finds out Franck was the last to see and speak with Mathieu before he died in the car accident, so she goes 'after him' as a way to deal with her grief and loss. Despite Franck being responsible for her son's death, Camille grows close to him, even giving him a job at her bookshop and giving him tickets to a rock concert. Things become unsettling as Camille seems to be making Franck her replacement son or re-creating Franck in Mathieu's image. 

Catherine Deneuve as Camille and Thomas Dumerchez as Franck in a scene from After Him (Après lui). Image: Gloria Films.

Catherine Deneuve gives a brilliant yet subdued performance as the relentless Camille who pursues Franck, and is in fine form throughout. Thomas Dumerchez is convincing as Mathieu's best friend Franck, who warms to Camille and becomes receptive towards her, perhaps out of guilt for her son's death. Franck grows increasingly concerned for his safety as Camille starts stalking him by waiting outside his house at 2am in the mornings, phoning him constantly and talking to his parents and tutors. Thomas Dumerchez shines in his role, where his character copes with Mathieu's death by moving on, which is in stark contrast to Camille's numbing grief. Other notable performances from the supporting cast include Guy Marchand as Camille's concerned ex-husband François, Élodie Bouchez gives a wonderful portrayal of Camille's daughter Laure, and Luis Rego and Amina Medjoubi as Franck's parents who feel uncomfortable with Camille's obsession with their son. 

 

Catherine Deneuve as Camille and Guy Marchand as François in a scene from After Him(Après lui). Image: Gloria Films.

Director Gaël Morel gives After Him (Après lui) a melancholy yet brooding mood with strong performances from an ensemble cast adding much pathos to heighten the drama. After Him (Après lui) may not suit everyone's cinematic taste, but it's an ambiguous and worthwhile film which benefits from Catherine Deneuve's star power.

Director: Gaël Morel 

Writers:  Gaël Morel (screenplay), Christoph Honorè (screenplay)

Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Thomas Dumerchez, Guy Marchand, Élodie Bouchez, Elli Medeiros, Luis Rego, Amina Medjoubi, Adrien Jolivet

Producers: Laurent Lavolè, Isabelle Pragier 

Cinematographer: Jena-Max Bernard 

Film Editor: Catherine Schwartz

Original Music Composer: Louis Sclavis 

Language: French with English subtitles

Running Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes