In « Garance », Alcoholism is Tackled Like Never Before Starring Adèle Exarchopoulos, the film is in competition at the Cannes Film Festival
Like a large portion of the films in competition at this 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, Garance joins a list of decent but unmemorable works, leaving one to wonder whether they will stay with audiences once the film festival comes to a close. Some, however, possess a bit more spark than others, and that is precisely the case for Jeanne Herry’s film starring Adèle Exarchopoulos, where the protagonist must confront an alcohol addiction that, in truth, she doesn't really want to face.
An actress in a small touring company that travels across France organizing morning shows for children, Garance is well aware of her problem. She speaks about it openly and, with equal clarity, knows she cannot cure it, reluctant as she is to lose the relief that alcohol provides against the anxieties of daily life. It is a paranoia that only a balm like white wine can soothe, and it makes the conversation surrounding Garance compelling, as the protagonist's illness is not treated as a shameful secret to be hidden, but rather as a habit to be bargained with.
The tone used by Jeanne Herry -contrary to what one might expect given the theme of alcoholism- is driven by a brisk humor and a sharp irony. It never conceals the woman's drinking, nor does it ever strike a note of judgment or pity toward her. Instead, it prefers to see where the choice to embrace her addiction will lead the protagonist, deciding to stand by her regardless of the path she chooses for her life -whether that means seeking a solution by attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings or continuing down a spiral of self-destruction that will inevitably lead to unpleasant consequences.
Adèle Exarchopoulos was the perfect choice for the title role. As one of the most prominent performers of her generation, a fact proven throughout her career and now in Garance, the actress has a natural familiarity with comedy. This allows her to deliver her lines with sharp timing and offer a brilliant performance without ever losing the more melancholic, even sad undertones that inevitably cloud the protagonist's blurry days -especially when she sees her acting dreams fade, or finds herself with saggy tights after a night of dancing that ended with her falling asleep on a bus.
The actress is the heart of Garance -and fortunately not the liver, which will slowly begin to give way to the protagonist's unsustainable lifestyle. She aligns perfectly with the intentions of Herry's screenplay, which showers the protagonist with affection despite her persistent mistakes, and outlines solid, supportive relationships that might ultimately help her -from the family that is always by her side to the set designer who suddenly enters her life, played by Sara Giraudeau. The direction the script takes to portray their relationship blends beautifully with the film's overall atmosphere. It offers a gentleness and a tremendous amount of support, perhaps even too much given Garance's behavior, but it helps set the mood of the film, making it unique and personal. This is its saving grace given the sea of anonymous works that hit the festival this year; Garance at least knows how to stand out, both within the competition and when compared to other films on the same subject.
