Movie of the Day: The Balconettes (2024) by Noémie Merlant
- dailyentertainment95
- Apr 10
- 4 min read
Link to watch: https://www.universcine.com/films/les-femmes-au-balcon (France)
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27721737/
About movie: https://mk2films.com/en/film/the-balconettes/
Detailed Summary
During a sweltering heatwave in Marseille, three female roommates find themselves confined to their apartment. From their balcony, they become engrossed in observing their mysterious neighbor, Magnani, who lives opposite them, and indulge in various fantasies about him. However, one late night, a seemingly ordinary conflict escalates into a bloody affair when they end up disposing of the body of an abuser. As they grapple with the aftermath and their involvement, the ghost of the deceased man continues to haunt one of the roommates, Nicole. Throughout the ordeal, the three friends each try to cope with what has happened in their own way, forging an even stronger bond of female friendship in the face of a terrifying situation.
Plot Summary
Three female roommates in Marseille, trapped by a heatwave, find their lives taking a dark turn after a late-night incident involving their neighbor and a deceased abuser, testing their bond and sanity.
Director's Vision
Noémie Merlant's directorial debut with "The Balconettes" is described as an audacious and confident foray into genre filmmaking, blending comedy and horror with a maximalist yet controlled style. Her vision, developed in collaboration with Céline Sciamma, offers an irreverent and hilarious descent into madness, highlighting female friendship and challenging the male gaze with a fearlessly feminist perspective, exploring female rage and the pursuit of autonomy in relationships and sexuality.
Themes
Female Friendship and Solidarity: The film emphasizes the strength and unity of the three roommates as they navigate a bizarre and terrifying situation.
Challenging Patriarchy: The film fearlessly tackles themes related to abusive men, the reaction to sexual assault, and female empowerment.
The Male Gaze: The roommates' initial fantasies about their neighbor and the subsequent events offer a whimsical investigation into the hidden mechanisms of the male gaze.
Female Rage and Revenge: The film doesn't shy away from depicting female anger and the desire for retribution against abusers.
Sexuality and Freedom: The film explores women claiming and embracing their own sexuality without shame.
Key Success Factors
Noémie Merlant's Bold Direction: Her confident and audacious approach to blending genres is a key strength.
Fearlessly Feminist Narrative: The film's strong feminist themes and unapologetic exploration of female rage resonate.
Balance of Horror and Comedy: The successful merging of horror and comedic elements creates a unique and entertaining experience.
Strong Performances: The lead actresses Souheila Yacoub, Sanda Codreanu, and Noémie Merlant deliver brilliant performances.
Summary Short
During a Marseille heatwave, three roommates' fascination with their neighbor leads to a terrifying incident involving an abuser's death, forcing them into a bloody affair and testing the strength of their female bond as the ghost of the deceased haunts them.
Awards and Nominations
"The Balconettes" was nominated for the Queer Palm at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Critics Reception
"The Balconettes" has received generally favorable reviews from critics:
Rotten Tomatoes: Reports that 67% of 24 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7/10.
Metacritic: Assigned the film a score of 66 out of 100, based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
Reviews
Critics described the film as a bold and entertaining genre-bending work:
Collider: Called it one of the most audacious and confident movies of the year, praising Merlant's maximalist style and comedic direction.
Dread Central: Lauded it as a fearlessly feminist horror-comedy that explores every corner of the genre with gore and fantasy.
Loud And Clear Reviews: Highlighted the film's blend of comedy and horror and the way the friends cope with the situation.
Wikipedia: Notes David Ehrlich of IndieWire described it as a "poisoned but delicious midnight snack," while Leslie Felperin of The Hollywood Reporter found it "less a bold sui generis experiment than a hot mess."
Box Office
"The Balconettes" has grossed $373,256 in France and a total worldwide gross of $388,308.
Production
"The Balconettes" is a French comedy horror film directed and co-written by Noémie Merlant, starring herself, Souheila Yacoub, and Sanda Codreanu, produced by Nord-Ouest Films and France 2 Cinéma, with a budget of €3.5 million and a runtime of 105 minutes.
Production Companies
Nord-Ouest Films (France)
France 2 Cinéma (France)
Sales Companies
mk2 Films is handling the international sales for "The Balconettes."
Distribution Companies
Tandem released the film theatrically in France.
Theatrical Release
The film premiered out of competition in the Midnight Screenings section at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2024. It was released theatrically in France on December 11, 2024.
Why to Recommend This Movie
Unique Blend of Horror and Comedy: Offers a fresh and entertaining take on genre filmmaking.
Fearlessly Feminist: Explores themes of female empowerment and challenges patriarchal norms.
Bold Directorial Debut: Noémie Merlant showcases a distinctive and audacious style.
Strong Female Performances: The three lead actresses deliver captivating performances.
Why to Watch Movie
For a Hilarious and Crazy Story: The film promises to be a wild and entertaining ride.
To See a Different Kind of Horror: Blends horror with comedic and thought-provoking elements.
To Experience a Film with a Strong Feminist Perspective: Offers a unique viewpoint on societal issues.
What Movie Trend Film is Following
Female-Led Horror Comedy: The film aligns with a growing trend of horror comedies centered around female characters and perspectives.
Genre Bending Films: It successfully merges horror, comedy, and fantasy elements.
What Big Social Trend is Following
Female Solidarity and Empowerment: The film celebrates female friendship and the power of women supporting each other.
Challenging Patriarchy and Addressing Abuse: It fearlessly tackles themes of male violence and female resistance.
Final Verdict
"The Balconettes" is a bold, hilarious, and fiercely feminist genre-bending film that marks an impressive directorial debut for Noémie Merlant. With its unique blend of horror and comedy, strong female characters, and unapologetic exploration of social themes, it offers a fresh and entertaining cinematic experience.
Recommendations for Film Makers
Embrace Bold and Unconventional Ideas: Merlant's film showcases the rewards of taking risks with genre and tone.
Center Female Perspectives in Genre Films: There is a growing audience for horror and comedy told from a female point of view.
Collaborate with Strong Writers: The collaboration between Merlant and Céline Sciamma is clearly a strength of the film.
Recommendations for Movie Industry
Support Female Directors in Genre Filmmaking: Noémie Merlant's success highlights the talent of emerging female directors in traditionally male-dominated genres.
Recognize the Audience for Feminist Horror Comedy: This subgenre has shown increasing popularity and commercial viability.
Provide Platforms for Diverse and Audacious Storytelling: Films that push boundaries and offer unique perspectives can find a dedicated audience.
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