CinemaSerf

There's something quite unnerving about this film. It all starts when the young "Rosalie" (Nadia Tereszkiewicz) is essentially dowered out to bar owner "Abel" (Benoît Magimel) so her father can be rid of her and so that her new husband can be rid of his debts. "Abel" is actually quite a decent man, recently returned from the wars, but he is ill-equipped for what he discovers on his wedding night. She suffers from the rare condition of hirsutism and he is repulsed by it. Her dowry didn't quite settle his bills with landlord "Barcelin" (Benjamin Biolay) and with his future on the line, she decides that it's time to go on the front foot and display her beardedness. Initially sceptical, it appears that the community are less intimidated by her than "Abel" had feared, indeed there seems to be an attraction developing between her and "Barcelin". The main drawback she faces, though, is an inability to bear children - that which she wishes for most. His solution is that they adopt, and this is when true colours are displayed and the story takes a slightly more predicable turn - especially as she begins to fall prey to the exploiters who see her as little better than a circus act. It's a love story, one of despair and one that illustrates not just power of superstition but also the continuing role of women in a society that saw them as goods to barter. It looks authentic, and though could maybe do with a little tightening up - there are quite a few repetitious scenes that don't really add much, is well delivered by an on-form Tereskiewicz and from the understated but potent Magimel which coupled with an emotive score from classical and Hania Rani sources to augment it too, makes for an interesting drama that is well worth a watch.