The turbulent, life-long friendship between painter Paul Cézanne (Guillaume Gallienne, Me, Myself and Mum) and writer Émile Zola (Guillaume Canet, Tell No One) is brought to the screen in Danièle Thompson’s well-appointed period drama.

Thompson begins her story as Cézanne and Zola clash over the latter’s new novel, L’Oeuvre, whose protagonist is an ambitious yet failed painter, then flashes back in time to recount how the two artists met as boys in Aix-en-Provence before exploding onto the Paris art scene of the Belle Époque. (Notes by David O’Mahony)

Director’s note: The friendship that unites Cézanne and Zola – two of France’s cultural icons – since childhood is examined in this highly polished period drama.

Screening as part of the IFI French Film Festival 2016.