New Movies: Par Amour (2024) by Élise Otzenberger

Call of Water (Par Amour) (2024) by Élise Otzenberger: A Mother's Love Meets the Unknown

Élise Otzenberger, known for her work including My Polish Honeymoon, directs Call of Water, a compelling French drama with a touch of fantasy. Originally titled Par Amour (For Love) in French, the film explores the profound depths of a mother's love when faced with an inexplicable phenomenon involving her child. Starring the acclaimed Cécile De France,

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31307675/

Link Review: https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/468434/

About movie: https://tandemfilms.fr/film/par-amour

Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/fr/film/dans-leau (France)

Detailed Summary

Call of Water (original French title: Par Amour) centers on Sarah (Cécile De France), a woman teetering on the brink of burnout, juggling the demands of work and raising two young children with an often-absent husband, Antoine. Their already strained relationship is pushed to its limits when a terrifying incident occurs during a family day at the beach. Sarah's 9-year-old son, Simon, mysteriously disappears. After frantic moments of searching, Sarah finds him, drenched and disturbed, staring out at the sea.

Back home, Simon begins to exhibit profoundly strange behaviors. He spends hours immersed in water, seemingly drawn to it at every opportunity. Concerned and increasingly desperate, Sarah pushes him to reveal the reason behind this unsettling transformation. Simon eventually confesses a secret that defies all logic: when submerged in water, he can hear extraterrestrial voices.

While Antoine struggles to grasp the gravity or reality of Simon's claims, Sarah, driven by an unwavering maternal instinct and immense love, chooses to believe and support her son. The film then becomes a poignant and suspenseful journey exploring the extreme lengths Sarah is willing to go "par amour" (for love) – to protect, understand, and stand by her child as he navigates this bizarre new reality, even if it means venturing into the unknown and challenging her own perceptions of the world.

Plot Summary

Sarah, a struggling mother, faces a new crisis when her 9-year-old son, Simon, mysteriously disappears at the beach. Upon his return, Simon develops an uncanny obsession with water, confessing he can hear extraterrestrial voices while submerged. Driven by her love, Sarah must decide how far she will go to support her son and understand his bewildering connection to the unknown.

Director's Vision

Élise Otzenberger, known for her sensitive approach to character and emotion, crafts Call of Water as a blend of family drama and subtle fantasy. Her vision is to delve into the intimacy of her characters, exploring universal subjects like motherhood, mental burden, and a "soft madness" while subtly flirting with the fantastic genre. Otzenberger aims for a "touching and poetic" direction, allowing the supernatural element to envelop the narrative without overwhelming the core human drama of an infallible maternal bond. The film is designed to be both visually organic and emotionally resonant, exploring how far love can push an individual to navigate extraordinary circumstances for their family.

Themes

• Maternal Love and Sacrifice: The central theme exploring the boundless and sometimes irrational love of a mother and the sacrifices she makes for her child's well-being.

• The Unknown and the Supernatural: The integration of a fantastical element (extraterrestrial voices) into a grounded family drama, exploring how ordinary lives react to the extraordinary.

• Mental Health and Burnout: Sarah's struggle with stress and the pressures of daily life highlight themes of mental burden and the fragility of well-being.

• Family Dynamics and Communication: The film examines the strains on a relationship when one partner struggles to comprehend or accept a child's unique experience.

• Belief and Acceptance: The challenge of believing in something inexplicable, especially when it concerns a loved one, and the journey towards acceptance.

Key Success Factors

• Compelling Premise: The unique blend of family drama with a fantastic, extraterrestrial element creates an intriguing and original storyline.

• Strong Lead Performance: Cécile De France's portrayal of Sarah is expected to be a powerful and empathetic anchor for the film's emotional core.

• Sensitive Direction: Élise Otzenberger's reputation for "pure emotion" and exploring intimacy with sensitivity suggests a nuanced and touching film.

• Festival Recognition: Its selection for prestigious festivals like Sitges, known for genre film, indicates its quality and distinct appeal.

• Relatable Human Element: Despite the fantasy, the film's focus on a mother's love and the struggles of a family grounding the narrative.

Cast

• Cécile De France as Sarah

• Arthur Igual as Antoine (Sarah's husband)

• Darius Zarrabian as Simon (the son)

• Navid Zarrabian

• Antoine Chappey

• Additional cast members include Maud Ameline, Mauricio Carrasco, Louise Groult, and Élise Otzenberger who also contributed to the screenplay.

Awards and Nominations

Call of Water (Par Amour) has received early recognition:

• Official Selection: Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, Spain (2024) - Official Fantastic Competition

• Official Selection: Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris, France (2025) - Paris Screenings – Cinema

Critics Reception

Early critical reception for Call of Water (Par Amour) has been generally positive, with reviews praising its unique blend of family drama and subtle fantasy.

• Cineuropa: Described Élise Otzenberger's film as a "visually sublime family drama-cum-mystery with a gentle splash of genre fantasy."

• Solab: Highlighted it as "a family's sci-fi odyssey by the sea," noting its selection for Sitges as a testament to its quality in the genre space.

• aVoir-aLire.com: Called it a "fable organique non dépourvue de poésie" (organic fable not devoid of poetry), while acknowledging its potentially polarizing blend of realism and chimera. They describe it as a film where a "woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown drowns her malaise in a fantastic world of her own."

Overall Summary of Critics Reception: Critics are receptive to Call of Water's unique blend of genres, appreciating its poetic and emotional approach to a fantastical premise. While some note its departure from strict realism, it is seen as a compelling and sensitive exploration of a mother's love within a mysterious context.

Reviews

As of its recent French theatrical release and festival screenings, audience reviews for Call of Water (Par Amour) are emerging. Viewers seem to be drawn to the film's emotional depth and the compelling performance by Cécile De France. The film's ability to balance its dramatic core with its intriguing fantasy element has been a point of discussion, with many appreciating its unique and thought-provoking narrative.

Overall Summary of Reviews: Reviews indicate that Call of Water is a captivating and emotionally resonant film that engages audiences with its unusual blend of family drama and the supernatural, centered around a strong lead performance.

Box Office

As of the current date, Call of Water (Par Amour) has a reported worldwide gross of approximately $91,565. This reflects its primary distribution through the art-house circuit and festival screenings.

Production

• Director: Élise Otzenberger

• Writers: Élise Otzenberger, Maud Ameline, Mauricio Carrasco, Louise Groult (Screenplay collaboration)

• Producers: Marine Bergère, Romain Daubeach (Executive Producers)

• Cinematographer: Ludovic Zuili

• Editor: Joseph Comar

• Music Composer: Rob

• Production Companies: Mamma Roman, Solab Films, Canal+

• Production Country: France

• Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes)

• Filming Locations: Île de Ré, Charente-Maritime, France

Sales Companies

• Playtime (Film exports/foreign sales)

Distribution Companies

• Tandem (French distribution)

• Galapagos Films (Poland - N/A release date)

Release Date on Streaming

Specific global streaming release dates for Call of Water (Par Amour) are not yet widely announced. It has been noted as available on VOD platforms like Amazon Video in France (for rent) following its theatrical window.

Theatrical Release

Call of Water (Par Amour) premiered at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia in Spain in 2024.

Its theatrical release in France was on January 15, 2025. It has also been an Official Selection at:

• Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris, France (2025)

• Les Arcs Film Festival (2024)

• Arras Film Festival (2024)

Why to Recommend This Movie

• Unique Genre Blend: If you enjoy films that cleverly merge heartfelt family drama with elements of fantasy or science fiction, this offers a fresh take.

• Strong Female-Led Narrative: Cécile De France's portrayal of a mother navigating an extraordinary challenge is a central draw.

• Thought-Provoking Story: The film prompts reflection on parental love, belief, and how we confront the inexplicable.

• Art-House Appeal: For those who appreciate French cinema and films that prioritize emotional depth and a distinct artistic vision.

Why to Watch Movie

• Captivating Mystery: The premise of a child hearing extraterrestrial voices from water creates an immediate sense of intrigue.

• Emotional Resonance: To experience a story that delves into the profound and sometimes desperate nature of a mother's love.

• Subtle Fantasy: If you prefer fantasy elements woven subtly into a grounded, human story rather than overt spectacle.

• Talented Filmmaking: To see Élise Otzenberger's direction, praised for its sensitivity and poetic touch, bringing this unique tale to life.

What Movie Trend Film is Following

Call of Water (Par Amour) aligns with the growing trend of "Elevated Genre Films," where elements of fantasy or horror are integrated into character-driven dramas to explore deeper psychological or social themes (similar to Arrival or Take Shelter). It also fits into the continued trend of "International Co-productions/Distribution" for independent and art-house cinema, seeking global reach through festival circuits and VOD.

What Big Social Trend is Following

The film touches on social trends surrounding "Parental Stress and Mental Load," particularly highlighting the pressures faced by mothers. It also subtly engages with contemporary anxieties about "The Unknown and the Unexplained," reflecting a societal curiosity or unease with phenomena that defy rational understanding.

Final Verdict

Call of Water (Par Amour) is a compelling and emotionally resonant film that deftly blends the intimacy of a family drama with a intriguing touch of the fantastic. Élise Otzenberger's sensitive direction and Cécile De France's powerful performance elevate the unique premise into a moving exploration of a mother's unwavering love in the face of the inexplicable. While not a mainstream sci-fi blockbuster, it offers a thought-provoking and artistically rich cinematic experience that will appeal to those who appreciate nuanced storytelling and genre-bending narratives. It stands as a strong entry in French cinema for 2024/2025.

Recommendations for Filmmakers

• Blend Genres Creatively: Don't be afraid to combine seemingly disparate genres (like drama and fantasy) to create unique and thought-provoking narratives, ensuring the emotional core remains central.

• Focus on Character Empathy: Even with a fantastical element, ground the story in relatable human emotions and experiences to ensure audience connection.

• Utilize Subtlety in Genre: For genre elements, a subtle, atmospheric approach can often be more impactful than overt spectacle, allowing the audience to fill in the blanks and engage more deeply.

Recommendations for Movie Industry

• Support Genre-Bending Independent Films: Recognize the potential of films that defy easy categorization, as they can attract diverse audiences and offer fresh perspectives.

• Promote International Art-House Cinema: Continue to champion the distribution of quality films from various countries, enriching the global cinematic landscape.

• Invest in Strong Female-Led Narratives: Films driven by complex female characters, especially mothers navigating challenging circumstances, continue to resonate strongly with audiences.

• Embrace Nuanced Storytelling: Encourage projects that delve into psychological depth and emotional complexity, rather than solely relying on plot-driven narratives.