Everybody Loves Jeanne showing at AFFFF 2023 was directed, written, and animated by Céline Devaux, who is no stranger to animation having won the 2016 César for Best Animated Short Film for Sunday Lunch. It is getting a general release in cinemas on 7 September 2023.
In the film, Jeanne Mayer (Blanche Gardin who is also in Smoking causes coughing at this year’s AFFFF, and who you may recall from Delete History or #Iamhere from AFFFF 2019) goes from being called Woman of the year for her innovative anti-plastic machine, which will clean our oceans, to on the verge of bankruptcy after the machine sinks catastrophically on launch day.
Her only remaining asset is the apartment that she and her brother, Simon (Maxence Tual, who is also briefly in A good doctor at this year’s AFFFF) grew up in in Lisbon, Portugal. It has sat empty since their mother’s sudden death a year earlier. Jeanne heads to Lisbon, where the majority of the film is set, to clear out the apartment and get It ready for sale. At the airport, overbearing Jean (Laurent Lafitte from the Comédie Française who was in We’ll end up together at AFFFF 2020, and See you up there at AFFFF 2018) recognises her from the French school in Lisbon where she had studied. She has no recollection of him. He’s a bit like the chewing gum you can’t get off your shoe.
Throughout Everybody loves Jeanne, Jeanne’s thoughts are put into animation complete with the voice in her head, which is voiced by director and animator Céline Devaux. The thoughts are very relatable and their portrayal in cartoon with a funny little voice is very amusing. To get an idea of what it looks and sounds like, watch the trailer at the end of this review.
Jeanne struggles to find the motivation to clear out her mother’s apartment and is burdened by memories of conversations with her mother playing over and over in her head – these are also occasionally given the animation treatment. She prefers the distractions of a former partner, Vitor (Nuno Lopes) and even the overly eager, but well-meaning, Jean who forces her to recognise some parts of herself that she has been pretending don’t exist.
The film finds the perfect balance between sadness and grief on the one hand, for Jeanne’s reckoning with her mother’s loss and the fractured relationship they had when she was alive and comedy and light-heartedness on the other hand, in her interactions with Vitor and Jean.
For those after a unique comedy, or who wish the critical little voice in their heads would shut up should go see Everybody loves Jeanne at this year’s AFFFF.
4 CROISSANTS
Matilda Marseillaise was a guest of Alliance Française French Film Festival
To find our when Everybody loves Jeanne is showing in your city during the AFFFF, click here: https://www.affrenchfilmfestival.org/film/everybody-loves-jeanne
Otherwise, it is getting a general release in cinemas on 7 September 2023.
KEY INFO FOR AFFFF 2023
WHAT: Alliance Française French Film Festival 2023 (AFFFF 2023) – the 34th edition of the largest celebration of French film outside of France!
WHERE & WHEN:
Sydney, NSW: 7th March to 5th April – Palace Central, Palace Verona, Palace Norton St, Chauvel Cinema, Hayden Orpheum Cremorne
Melbourne, VIC: 8th March to 5th April – Palace Cinema Como, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Westgarth, The Astor Theatre, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema
Perth, WA: 8th March to 5th April – Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, Windsor Cinema, Palace Raine Square, Camelot Outdoor Cinema
Canberra, ACT: 9th March to 5th April – Palace Electric Cinema
Hobart, TAS: 9th to 19th March – State Cinema
Brisbane, QLD: 15th March to 12th April – Palace James Street, Palace Barracks
Byron Bay, NSW: 16th March to 5th April – Palace Byron Bay
Adelaide, SA: 23rd March to 19th April – Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
Port Pirie, Renmark, Whyalla, Mount Gambier: 24th March to 26th March – Northern Festival, Chaffey Theatre, Middleback Arts Centre, Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre
Gold Coast, QLD: 29th March to 16th April – Dendy Southport
Parramatta, NSW: 29th March to 2nd April – Riverside Theatre Parramatta
Victor Harbour, SA: 3rd and 10th April – Victa Cinema
Bendigo, VIC: 21st to 23rd April – Star Cinema
HOW: The full program of 41 films can be viewed at the official Alliance Française French Film Festival 2023 website via this link: https://www.affrenchfilmfestival.org/
HOW MUCH: Ticket prices vary between cities and there are also discounted festival passes available if you want to see several films. (NB You will need to pick the films and sessions when purchasing the pass)
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See below for more AFFFF content
Our picks from the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2023 program
Alliance Française French Film Festival 2023 first 15 films announced
A good Doctor delivers a dose of hilarity in the unexpected
Country Cabaret: a fun farm film to see at AFFFF 2023
Final Cut: a comedic zombie film that’s even for people who don’t like horror or gore
Happy 50/Plancha is about a group vacation gone wrong
Jack Mimoun and the Secrets of Val Verde is a fun adventure
In On the wandering paths, Jean Dujardin takes the path less travelled
Paris Memories traces the difficulties of being a survivor of the Paris terrorist attacks
Ride Above is an inspiring, but predictable, film about finding the courage to ride again
Sugar and Stars: an inspiring tale about the road to sweet success
Silver Rockers: a film inspired by the story of rocker retirees from Normandy
The Colours of Fire: an heiress seeks revenge
The Origin of Evil is a must-see film this AFFFF
Which films won at the César 2023 and where you can watch them
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To discover other events with French and francophone links happening in your city, check out our What’s on in April article.
