NON-FICTION
Juliette Binoche is at her radiant best in auteur Olivier Assayas’ intelligent, uproarious comedy of manners about Parisian intellectuals struggling to come to terms with changing technology.
Following acclaimed recent outings like CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA and PERSONAL SHOPPER, prolific director Olivier Assayas returns to the realm of breezy, brainy comedy with this sophisticated literary-world romp. NON-FICTION revolves around Parisian publishing bigwig Alain (Guillaume Canet) and his wife Selena (Juliette Binoche), a successful but dissatisfied television actress. Feeling immense pressure to contend with declining book sales, Alain hires an ambitious, seductive young digital media expert Laure (Christa Théret) to guide his business into the 21st Century. Selena disapproves of Alain’s wholehearted embrace of new media, and is equally critical of his decision to reject the manuscript of her unsuccessful friend Léonard (Vincent Macaigne). Alain criticizes Léonard’s racy new book for being self-indulgently autobiographical, but little does he know how close to home the sources of Léonard’s inspiration lie. Assayas’ characters are at once brilliant and full of contradictions, passionately espousing their ideals in conversation but touchingly mixed-up in their private lives. With this hugely entertaining roundelay of bed-hopping, wine drinking, and witty banter, the auteur has proven himself to be a master of lighthearted comedy that doesn’t lack for intellectual rigor or emotional substance.
CAST: Juliette Binoche, Guilaume Canet, Vincent Macaigne, Christa Theret
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