This film opens on March 20th. Tickets will go on sale Monday, March 16th.

Lumir (Juliette Binoche), a screenwriter based in New York, has returned to Paris with husband Hank (Ethan Hawke), a mediocre TV actor on the cusp of success, and their young daughter for a rare visit to her mother, the legendary actress Fabienne (a magnificently imperious Catherine Deneuve.)

Demanding and narcissistic, Fabienne is an unreconstructed ego-driven diva who uses and abuses all those who care for her and has played fast and loose with history in her newly published memoir (which is titled, ironically, The Truth). When Fabienne’s assistant resigns, Lumir agrees to take over his role just as Fabienne begins work on a science fiction film, a collaboration which triggers long-repressed resentments. Kore-eda’s first film made outside his native Japan, the follow-up to his Palme d’Or-winning Shoplifters, is as well-observed, wise and humane as his best work.

(Notes by David O’Mahony).

FEAST YOUR EYES

Enjoy a specially curated main course in the IFI Café Bar following the 18.30 screening on Wednesday 25th.

Don’t forget we now schedule weekly.