About Bonne Figure (Smile)
By Charles Tesson
A superb movement, enough time for an actress to receive her award, between keeping up appearances and the retreat in her apartment. Rushed exchanges with admirers followed by a silent dialogue with a picture, in soothing contrast. At first, a close-up on a face (Chiara Mastroianni), getting ready to exist (make-up for the ceremony) and her back, the reverse side of the story. What does it mean to be an actress? A constellation of words, rehearsed to « have the best smile », to learn a role, left on the answering machine. A constellation of paper, too. An award, the script to read, the sketch of the dress. A whole programme or lifestyle, a sensitive surface, wonderfully rendered.
