Intense drama

Poignant film

Cine Forum Melies will screen ‘In the Courtyard’ (‘Dans la cour’) on August 25, 7 pm at the Alliance Francaise auditorium.

The drama/comedy is directed by Pierre Salvadori and is subtitled in English. ‘In The Courtyard’ is a charmingly poignant movie that explores the increasingly deepening bond between the panic-prone Mathilde (Catherine Deneuve) and ex-musician Antoine (Gustave Kervern).

Antoine is too depressed to go on playing in his rock band. After wandering in the streets, he decides to seek an occupation. Unskilled as he is, he is lucky to be hired as the caretaker of an old Paris apartment building and also develops a particular friendship with Mathilde, a recently retired woman who lives in the block and whose mental balance is deteriorating.

At the heart of the film is the unforced chemistry between Deneuve and Kervern, who is best known for off the wall movies. Both actors infuse the relationship between Mathilde and Antoine with engaging empathy.