By Pearl Tizzie
Maria Into Life is a romantic comedy that explores the connections that can be made through creativity and art. Is there more to life than the routine and the mundane? Can past relationships be healed or is the grass greener on the other side?
Karin Viard plays Maria, a middle aged woman who finds herself in a new job as a cleaner at an art school where she is exposed to the art students, other cleaners, the teaching faculty and her boss, and the janitor, Hubert, played by Gregory Cadebois. Maria’s life outside this new world seems lackluster and without wonder compared to this new land of creativity and dare. Maria sees first-hand different perspectives on relationships and connections from different generations and outside her usual community. This inspires her to rediscover her relationship with her own body and her own life.
A connection with a new friend causes Maria to question if she is satisfied with her present existence. Hubert is a new intrigue and is delightfully played showing interest and love on the nice side of creepy. Connecting through art, play, and curiosity, new possibilities are opened for both of them.
While this may all sound heavy, the film is gentle and good humoured. The soundtrack complements the scenes well, and the scenery is exquisite (you may find yourself with a new found desire to sign up for art school). The exhibits in the film are intriguing in themselves and this film’s peek into art school is akin to a look at a haunted house through a horror movie.
Sweet and funny Maria Into Life displays human emotion and connection through subtleties such as a quivering lip or a smirk in a mirror.
Champagne Lanson presents the 34th Alliance Francaise d’Adelaide French Film Festival.
The French Film Festival is showing at Palace Nova Eastend and Palace Nova Prospect
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