Isa,
a wandering drifter with a free spirit, travels across the country in a baggy
sweater carrying all her possession in her backpack. She has been earning her
living by odd jobs and living in the street. When she arrives in Lille and
starts working
on a clothing factory line, she meets the unsociable and lonely Marie.
Despite their very different personalities, the two loners become fast
friends. Isa, who needs somewhere to sleep, moves into the empty apartment Marie
has been living in. When Isa discovers that the teenage girl, whose room she now
lives in, is hospitalized in a coma, she begins to visit her and continues to
write in the girl’s journal for her. Marie, uncaring, has become completely
consumed by her affair with the wealthy and philandering Chriss. Humiliated and
devastated by the failure of this relationship, Marie turns her anger against
Isa - causing a radical break in their friendship. Director Erick Zonca was
astounded by the 12-minute standing ovation his film received when it was shown
Cannes in 1998. Despite a long career in cinema, “La vie rêvée des anges”
is Zonca’s first feature-length film.
Cast: Elodie Bouchez, Natacha Régnier, Grégoire Colin, Jo Prestia.
Awards: Best Actresses (Cannes, 1998); Best Film and Best Actresses (César
Awards, 1999).
Running time: 113 minutes
Year of production: 1998
Rating: Not rated; some nudity and sex.