Fille Seule, La (A Single Girl)

Released 1995
Stars Virginie Ledoyen, Benoît Magimel, Dominique Valadié, Véra Briole
Directed by Benoît Jacquot

"A Single Girl" is an absorbing experience. Nothing really happens and there's not much dialogue, but it's completely engrossing. It's about a beautiful young woman, Valerie, who's at a crossroads in her life. She needs to decide whether she should continue her relationship with her unemployed boyfriend. She's also pregnant and needs to decide whether she should keep the baby. On top of that, it's her first day at a new job. This film is a morning in the life of this hauntingly beautiful woman. It's filmed in real time, meaning there are no cut-aways that skip time. If Valerie needs to get somewhere, we watch her walk to that place. There's no narration or "traveling" music. It's as if we are Valerie. What makes the film work so well is the wonderful, subtle performance by Virginie Ledoyen.

Summary by Bill Alward

For an excellent review, see James Berardinelli's review at http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/s/single.html.

"A Single Girl" is an absorbing experience. Nothing really happens and there's not much dialogue, but it's completely engrossing. It's about a morning in the life of a hauntingly beautiful woman, Valerie, who's at a crossroads in her life. It's filmed in real time, meaning there are no cut-aways that skip time. If Valerie needs to get somewhere, we watch her walk to that place. There's no narration or "traveling" music. It's as if we are Valerie. What makes the film work so well is the wonderful, subtle performance by Virginie Ledoyen. --Bill Alward, April 9 2001