Retour à la vie

Louise, a young deaf and dumb comedian, has just been named best actress of the year. She is married to Yann, twenty years her senior. But their relationship is conflicting. It seems that Yann takes a malicious pleasure in psychologically torturing Louise. A whirlwind of uncertainties where dreams collide with nightmares, anguish, submission, sadism... Louise confides in Stephanie, her best friend, who advises her to flee. Louise refuses, convinced of a better future. One evening, while Yann tortures her once again, she kills him.

Directed by Pascal Baeumler, Retour à la vie leans on a strong ensemble — Emmanuelle Laborit, Marisa Berenson, Marius Colucci — 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 1999.