Manon on the Asphalt

On a day in early summer, two young men play squash, a lifeguard watches an indoor pool, a young woman shelves books at a store, another stages a puppet show for children in a park, an older woman cooks, and Manon gets on her bicycle to ride to a rendezvous with her boyfriend. She turns a corner. Something happens. As she lies on the asphalt, a crowd gathers around her and an ambulance arrives; we hear her voice, first confused as to what has happened, then telling us how her friends and her mother will receive word, and how her friends will gather to talk. As images move back and forth in time, she remembers recent events and expresses some small regrets.

Directed by Elizabeth Marre, Olivier Pont, Manon on the Asphalt leans on a strong ensemble — Aude Léger, Xavier Boiffier, Michelle Léger — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2007.