‘Private Life’ Review: Fluent in French, Jodie Foster Steers an Upscale, Paris-Set Psychological Thriller

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In Paris, an accomplished American psychiatrist named Liliane Steiner has a tendency to tape her therapy sessions. Could it be that her patients speak French and she fears overlooking an insight due to language barriers? (I question if Jodie Foster, who portrays this character reminiscent of Hitchcock, misses little in her first substantial French-speaking role in over two decades.) Or is it possible that Liliane doesn’t truly empathize with these patients, whose issues seem trivial to her, merging into a cacophony of background noise in the soundtrack of “Private Life”?

In Rebecca Zlotowski’s slick yet deceptive psychological thriller, a surprising piece of news reaches Liliane: Paula Cohen-Solal (played by Virginie Efira), a woman who had skipped their last three meetings, has tragically taken her own life. This revelation catches Liliane off guard and leaves her feeling uneasy, questioning if there were other crucial details she might have overlooked. Paula’s demise propels Liliane to revisit her records, searching for hints of what happened, although she knows that the answers may not be found there.

Indeed, Anne Berest and Zlotowski’s witty script subtly proposes that a significant portion of what Liliane’s patients confide in her is a constructed reality, where they portray themselves as protagonists or victims within their narratives, tailored for her therapist’s perspective. How much of these stories are entirely fabricated and how well does she comprehend the lives they live beyond her office walls is a fascinating question. This concept serves as an intriguing foundation for a classic psychological mystery, reminiscent of Hollywood productions from earlier times, before the genre predominantly moved to television.

At a memorial service for Paula, Liliane unexpectedly encounters Mathieu Amalric, who becomes enraged and expels her from the event. It’s revealed that Paula passed away due to an overdose of the medication Liliane had prescribed. Although Liliane is more inclined to believe there was foul play involved in Paula’s death, she begins investigating on her own, starting with the available recordings.

In a hypothetical scenario involving Liliane consulting a therapist (perhaps portrayed by Paris-based filmmaker Frederick Wiseman), this therapist might label it as a situation of countertransference: Instead of admitting her own mistakes or shortcomings, Liliane seeks alternative reasons. However, her body conveys mixed signals. For instance, she is unable to control her tears, claiming it’s not due to sadness but some sort of malfunction in her tear ducts. This condition appears particularly awkward for someone as reserved and emotionless as Liliane.

Despite the fact that nothing in “Private Life” appears ordinary, the persistent flow of Foster’s tears stands out as one of Zlotowski’s more impactful visuals. Since Liliane’s ex-husband Gabriel is a doctor, she decides to schedule an appointment. However, her crying persists. In a move she never thought she would make, Liliane seeks help from a hypnotist who had previously managed to persuade one of his patients to quit smoking. This was something she considered a questionable procedure but ultimately submits herself to it.

they might have been past life lovers. Could this be the reason for Liliane’s strong affection towards Paula? And could the sight of her son Julien (Vincent Lacoste) dressed as an SS officer shed light on her longstanding coldness towards him?

In “Private Life,” Zlotowski’s Jewish identity makes the specter of antisemitism not just a trivial matter but deeply personal for him. This suggests that Liliane’s perspective, as portrayed in the film, is equally valid to the one Paula was crafting for her. The movie, with its rich, almost exaggerated style reminiscent of films like “Dead Again” and “Spellbound,” is beautifully balanced by Foster’s intense, focused performance.

It often appears that Liliane is self-assured, even when it seems to the viewers that she’s on the wrong path with her investigation. Her actions frequently breach the ethical standards of her profession, yet Foster remains unshaken in his beliefs. Might it come as a shock to discover that this process serves as therapeutic relief for Liliane as well? She has grown complacent in her career and her personal relationships (with Gabriel, Julien, and her newborn grandson) are in disarray.

Liliane is reinvigorated by her whirlwind journey across France, reminiscent of Nancy Drew’s adventures. Although the final destination may not be as exciting, Liliane enjoys watching Foster skillfully handle a dual-language role and subtly mock the French ways, which hints at Foster’s personal experiences living abroad.

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2025-05-20 21:46