Director
Safy Nebbou
(IN THE FORESTS OF SIBERIA, DUMAS)

Stars
Juliette Binoche, François Civil, Nicole Garcia and Guillaume Gouix

Is Juliette Binoche’s work in the character-driven French drama, WHO YOU THINK I AM her finest since that Oscar-winning performance in the 1996 romantic war-drama, THE ENGLISH PATIENT and her Oscar-nominated work in 2000s CHOCOLAT? My answer is an emphatic yes! Regardless though of whether or not you agree, there is no disputing the fact that this film has not only given voice to a character of this specific gender and age-bracket that we simply need to see more of in cinema, but why it’s needed.

Juliette Binoche plays Claire, a university lecturer and mother of two teenage boys, who is struggling to cope with being alone after her ex-husband gets into a new relationship. The physical companionship she shares with a younger man, Ludovic (Guillaume Gouix) might offer Claire a temporary distraction from her overwhelming emptiness, but is hardly enough to fulfil her needs. Upon realising this, Claire turns to the very accessible world of social media where she seeks solace by dangerously covering up her middle-aged identity pretending to be a much younger and very beautiful woman. Just how far will Claire allow her fake Facebook profile to take her before losing sight of her true self?

As insensitive and selfish as this may sound towards the lead character of this psychological drama, WHO YOU THINK I AM certainly fulfilled my needs. I became instantaneously fascinated by the screenplay’s exploration into the somewhat controlled, but debilitating psyche of its protagonist, thanks largely to the sublime acting of Juliette Binoche, the meaty writing and characterisation of the script, and the structure that this story is told from. By rendering its story retrospectively as Claire elaborates past actions to Dr Bormans (Nicole Garcia) during her psychiatric appointments, two pivotal feelings towards our female protagonist are evoked. Empathy, for we are enabled to possess varying levels of understanding behind her mental state and decision making, and purely due to the fact she is seemingly seeking the help that she needs. The other is concern, as it is evident from the beginning of her first session (and the film) that things are going to get a whole lot worse than where they are currently at. This genuine concern only escalates when Claire’s behaviour turns negligent to more than just herself and as the mind games opposed to several competitors are in full swing.

A psychologically complex and sombre film, WHO YOU THINK I AM is a more than credible depiction of how the lack of control over one’s feelings, emotions and impulses can rapidly spiral out of control and have damaging consequences. Recommended viewing, especially if you’re a fan of character-driven films.

4 stars

Viewer Discretion
MA15+ (Strong sex scenes)

Trailer
WHO YOU THINK I AM (CELLE QUE VOUS CROYEZ)

Moviedoc thanks Palace Films for the invite to the screening of this film.

WHO YOU THINK I AM is released in selected cinemas throughout Australia from August 1st, 2019.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc
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