Starring Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts
Written by Jacques Audiard and Thomas Bidegain
Directed by Jacques Audiard
France/IBelgium 2012
123 mins
Director Jacques Audiard is principally known for 'The Beat That My Heart Skipped' and 'The Prophet' - two dramas set in tough masculine worlds. His new film is a dark comedy western - 'The Sisters Brothers' which opens here on the 5th April. In between Audiard made 'Rust And Bone', an intense and passionate love story that moves effortlessly between edgy realism and transcendental beauty.
Ali (Matthias Schoenaerts) is a drifter who hitchhikes to the south of France with his young son and meets Stéphanie (Marion Cotillard) who works in a local marine tourist park. When Stéphanie is the victim of a terrible freak accident her life changes and depression strikes. A call to Ali one day sparks a casual sexual relationship between them - but as time goes on things begin to change...
Based on a novel by Canadian author Craig Davidson 'Rust And Bone' features two wonderful and contrasting performances from the leads. Cotillard had previously excelled as the singer Edith Piaf in 'La Vie En Rose' but Schoenaerts was a virtual unknown whose unselfconscious style is a perfect complement to Cotillard's powerful portrayal.
The soundtrack includes a score by Alexandre Desplat but also features artists as diverse as Katy Perry, Bruce Springsteen and the B52s. The combination of image and music is frequently potent and affecting - giving us a great love story and much more besides...
