Angèle and Tony

Just released from prison, Angèle (Clotilde Hesme) tries to start all over again. But to do so, she needs a man. Because only if she is married does she have a chance of getting custody of her young son Yohan back. When the quiet fisherman Tony (Grégory Gadebois) answers her personal ad, Angèle's case is clear: the lovable Tony is the right candidate. But the fisherman reacts to her very clear attempts at advances with a brusque rejection. But since he somehow feels connected to the mysterious beauty, Tony gives Angèle a job as a saleswoman. And indeed, a relationship of trust develops between the two, which is only a thorn in the side of Tony's mother Myriam (Evelyne Didi). She senses that Angèle is carrying a secret - a secret that could make love between her and Tony impossible.

With Angèle and Tony, director Alix Delaporte has succeeded in making a tender feature film debut that wraps up a story infused with a great deal of realism in a narrative style that at times seems almost fairytale-like. It is not the few words that Angèle and Tony exchange with each other that tell this story, but rather the film's strong visual language, which includes not only the wonderful landscape of Normandy but also the actors' expressive facial expressions despite their restraint. Especially Clotilde Hesme expresses much more with her looks than with words. So it is absolutely understandable that Tony, although he is at first not very enthusiastic about Angèle's gruff manner, feels that this woman carries a lot of longing, sadness, but also love.

So it is then also due to the two great leading actors that this unusual love story grips and touches the viewer despite the somewhat unwieldy staging, especially at the beginning. Even though Delaporte keeps her audience guessing for a long time about the direction in which the story, which is told in a very carried manner, is moving, she rewards the audience's patience with a surprisingly great emotional power, which can unfold especially in the last third through the simplest means. Sure, some elements of the story feel a bit contrived and almost seem naïve amidst the very realistic backdrop surrounding the problems of ordinary fishermen. But what could easily have degenerated into kitsch in less sensitive hands here comes across as simply beautiful and touching in a pleasantly understated way.

Angèle and Tony may not be easy cinema entertainment. But if you like French art house cinema with wonderful pictures, good actors and a lot of romance, you shouldn't miss this little program cinema gem. Worth seeing

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp