Victoria - Männer & andere Missgeschicke (Victoria)
France 2016

Opening 4 May 2017

Directed by: Justine Triet
Writing credits: Thomas Lévy-Lasne, Justine Triet
Principal actors: Virginie Efira, Vincent Lacoste, Melvil Poupaud, Laurent Poitrenaux, Laure Calamy

Victoria, a young Parisian lawyer, is heading for burnout. She has a demanding job, two little girls to bring up by herself, a deadbeat ex who complicates her life in strange ways, and ex-friends and ex-clients she can't say 'no' to when they demand her help. In addition she fits in regular sessions with a shrink and a fortuneteller and the occasional one-night stand.

Virginie Efira fully embraces her role as this sexy, charmingly neurotic and chaotic woman who doesn't know what or who is good for her. Vincent Lacoste is absolutely adorable as Sam, an ex-client turned live-in babysitter for her daughters who makes himself indispensable.

The film wants to be tragicomedy, love story and court drama at once. The result is a little exhausting and confusing (though this is probably exactly how life feels to Victoria). Still it is worth the 97-minute watch thanks to Virginie Efira's and Vincent Lacoste's performances. (Carola A)