Watch Jalouse

Jalouse is a French movie from 2017 directed by David and Stéphane Foenkinos. The movie stars Karin Viard as Nathalie Pêcheux, a high school teacher in her late 40s struggling to cope with aging, loneliness, and jealousy. Nathalie lives with her teenage daughter, Mathilde (Dara Tombroff), and her ex-husband, Bernard (Thibault de Montalembert), who has moved on with another woman. Nathalie's best friend, Sophie (Anne Dorval), is a successful artist who seems to have it all: beauty, youth, and talent. Nathalie, on the other hand, feels invisible, unappreciated, and resentful of everyone around her.

The movie opens with Nathalie celebrating her 44th birthday with her family and friends. Although everyone makes an effort to show her affection and appreciation, Nathalie can't help feeling miserable and ungrateful. She is especially annoyed by the presence of Mathilde's boyfriend, Hubert (Anaël Snoek), who seems to be monopolizing her daughter's attention.

As the movie progresses, we see Nathalie becoming increasingly jealous and paranoid. She accuses Hubert of flirting with her and tries to seduce him herself. She also becomes obsessed with Sophie's newfound success and starts to resent her for it. Nathalie's behavior becomes more erratic and desperate as she seeks validation and attention from those around her.

Throughout the movie, Nathalie's inner turmoil is portrayed with a mix of humor and pathos. We see her struggling to come to terms with her aging body, her unfulfilled dreams, and her damaged relationships. We also see her lashing out at those who love her, pushing them away with her constant complaints and negativity.

Karin Viard's performance as Nathalie is outstanding, capturing both the character's vulnerability and her volatility. Viard manages to make Nathalie sympathetic and relatable even as she behaves in unreasonable and hurtful ways. Dara Tombroff is also excellent as Mathilde, conveying the complexity of a teenager caught between her loyalty to her mother and her own desires.

Anne Dorval shines as Sophie, bringing warmth and humor to a character who could have easily been one-dimensional. Sophie provides a much-needed counterpoint to Nathalie's bitterness, reminding her friend of the joys and challenges of life beyond middle age.

Jalouse is a character-driven movie that explores the themes of jealousy, aging, and friendship with sensitivity and wit. It avoids the usual clichés of midlife crisis movies, presenting a nuanced and realistic portrayal of a woman at a crossroads in her life. The movie is beautifully shot, with muted colors and understated visuals that complement the introspective tone of the story.

Overall, Jalouse is a must-see movie for anyone who enjoys intelligent and provocative cinema. It offers a rare glimpse into the psyche of a woman whose struggles are both universal and deeply personal. It is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and ponder your own life choices. Highly recommended.