La Buche

La Buche boasts an embarrassment of riches in terms of creative talent, delivering a warm depiction of the complexities of modern families, as director Danielle Thompson explores an abundance of themes in her directorial debut. It’s Christmas and Yvette (screen great Françoise Fabian) and her four grown-up daughters, Louba (Sabine Azéma), Sonia (Emmanuelle Béart) and Milla (Charlotte Gainsbourg), attend her husband’s (their stepfather) funeral. Over the coming Christmas break, the four women’s issues with men, money and each other are inextricably exposed. La Buche is a thoughtful and well-paced film, delving into relationships ranging from strained familial ties to overlooked interactions with colleagues and strangers. Thompson weaves these themes and images effortlessly into a truly touching piece, replete with top-notch acting from a cohort of France’s greatest actresses: New Wave luminary Françoise Fabian, Resnais regular Sabine Azéma and the internationally renowned Emmanuelle Béart. The younger Charlotte Gainsbourg holds her own among these heavyweights in a performance that won her the coveted César for Best Supporting Actress.