Julie, a 40-something mother, lives alone with her son. Claude has two children. He is married but in the process of getting divorced. When they meet during a business trip, it is love at first sight. Julie and Claude soon decide to set up home together, far from Paris in a new house which they have chosen together. However, soon after moving in events take an unexpected turn. Claude is the victim of a terrible car accident which leaves him in a coma. His ex-wife Sandrine attempts to take advantage of the situation to try and win him back and even to eradicate the very existence of Julie, who has to fight hard to get back the man she loves. But will their love be strong enough to overcome such a challenge? Can this beautiful romance be picked up where it left off, with Claude no longer being himself?
2 Reviews
A man divided in two
jotix1006 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
An interesting proposal in this made for television film that was shown recently on a French international channel. Claude, a man of a certain age, who has found happiness at last with a much younger woman, suffers a terrible accident which almost kills him. Legally in limbo, the wife he abandoned, Sandrine, is called to his bedside to deal with the tragedy that unfolds, leaving Julie out of the picture. Julie the mother of Claude's six year old son, is left to fend for herself. She must fight for her right to be next to the man that might not even recover from the wounds and memory loss caused by the crash.
We are given glimpses of how Claude met Julie during a business trip. Claude, a married man with two children with Sandrine, leaves them to set a home in a distant place with Julie. Sandrine, on the other hand, sees the opportunity to gain back the man she lost, even though he might never recuperate himself from the accident that leaves him in a coma after all that was done to save his life.
For all appearances, Sandrine appears to be get along with Julie, but she maneuvers herself to only include pictures of Claude's former family life in the process of recuperation. According to the hospital Julie has no claims to Claudee because as far as they are concerned, Sandrine is officially still his wife. Julie has to fight back to get the man she loves.
Based on a true story, this television film was directed by Emmanuel Finkiel, who adapted the original material by Julie Reynal, the real Julie of this drama. What surprises from the film is that it is something that could happen anywhere. The two women behave as expected of them, something that with another creator might have developed in a free for all battle of wits.
The director got excellent acting from Michelle Laroque, who plays Julie. Ms. Laroque plays Julie with dignity, standing by the man she adores. The wonderful Dominique Raymond appears as Sandrine, the abandoned wife. Wladimir Yordanoff is Claude, the man between the two women.
We are given glimpses of how Claude met Julie during a business trip. Claude, a married man with two children with Sandrine, leaves them to set a home in a distant place with Julie. Sandrine, on the other hand, sees the opportunity to gain back the man she lost, even though he might never recuperate himself from the accident that leaves him in a coma after all that was done to save his life.
For all appearances, Sandrine appears to be get along with Julie, but she maneuvers herself to only include pictures of Claude's former family life in the process of recuperation. According to the hospital Julie has no claims to Claudee because as far as they are concerned, Sandrine is officially still his wife. Julie has to fight back to get the man she loves.
Based on a true story, this television film was directed by Emmanuel Finkiel, who adapted the original material by Julie Reynal, the real Julie of this drama. What surprises from the film is that it is something that could happen anywhere. The two women behave as expected of them, something that with another creator might have developed in a free for all battle of wits.
The director got excellent acting from Michelle Laroque, who plays Julie. Ms. Laroque plays Julie with dignity, standing by the man she adores. The wonderful Dominique Raymond appears as Sandrine, the abandoned wife. Wladimir Yordanoff is Claude, the man between the two women.
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