14/02/2007

Presented in the Berlinale’s Panorama section, Michel Spinosa’s third feature, Anna M. [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the story of one woman’s amorous obsessions (and the reference to François Truffaut’s wonderful Adele H. seems no coincidence), is made all the more moving by Isabelle Carré’s commanding and passionate performance.

Currently one of France’s most sought after young actresses (she received a César in 2003 and a Molière in 2004), here Carré plays a normal woman convinced a doctor is in love with her, interpreting each of his gestures and words and a sign of this passion.

"Erotomanic delusion is an obsessive psychosis that strikes many women”, explained the director, “without any warning or symptoms. It develops in three phases: hope, spite, resentment. It is an illness that is certainly fascinating to a screenwriter or director. I did a lot of research in scientific libraries before shooting the film. Erotomania is the dark side of jealousy and leads to violence".

In fact, Carré’s Anna is a reserved and meticulous woman who turns into a “terrible” creature, as the actress and director call her: "She lives in a very particular aesthetic and visual universe", stressed Spinosa. "I wanted to distance myself from modern-day elements because this kind of woman can exist in any era".

(Translated from Italian)