Marine Atlan Debuts 'La Gradiva' – Teen Love in Pompeii
SkimNews Take
The film's focus on Pompeii's preserved past, a city frozen in a moment of disaster, implicitly amplifies the transient, volatile nature of adolescent emotions and first loves.
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- Marine Atlan makes her directorial debut with "La Gradiva", a film about teenage love set on a school trip to Pompeii and Naples.
- La Gradiva references Wilhelm Jensen’s 1902 novella admired by Sigmund Freud, linking the story to themes of lost love and catastrophe.
- Antonia Buresi plays Mercier, a teacher on the brink of breakdown, delivering a monologue about being single and childless.
- Colas Quignard portrays Toni, whose voyeuristic stare on a train creates a central moment of sexual tension.
- The cast includes newcomers such as Mitia Capellier‑Audat (James), Hadya Fofana (Angela), and Suzanne Gerin (Suzanne), delivering superb performances.
Why it matters: The film gives Marine Atlan a high‑profile entry into directing, while French audiences gain a fresh, emotionally resonant teen drama that challenges dismissive attitudes toward adolescent experiences.
