Jeune Femme, written and directed by Leonor Serraille 9 out of 10

Jeune Femme, written and directed by Leonor Serraille
9 out of 10


Jeune Femme was not nominated for any Oscar, but in my view, it is better than A Star is Born, to name just one candidate.

Furthermore, Laetitia Dosch, the formidable actress in the leading role could give a few or many lessons to Lady Gaga, of the dress made of meat fame.

Ms. Dosch plays Paula Simonian, a woman who is thirty one but still has not decided what to do with her life.
She thinks about returning to school, takes a job as a sales clerk, but she is ashamed with what she is doing.

The protagonist has just been through a bad breakup and has to find a place to live, with the cat that seems to belong to her ex lover.
A friend throws her out when she is rude, or perhaps just too sincere.

She finds a place where she can stay, in exchange for baby sitting a girl that is hostile in the beginning, but then becomes attached to the kind, spontaneous heroine.
Alas, one day she returns late with the girl and the mother is furious for that, the explanations given, the fact that they went to the mall.

Worse still, the activities there were not suitable - you do not take a child to look at and select pajamas or whatever it was.
The so called employer is further aggravated by the fact that Paula reveals that she went to the place where she works and this exposes the original lie.

For she stated when she moved in that she is a student and the mother is upset for she no longer knows with whom she is dealing.
While working at the shopping mall, the protagonist meets a very nice man of African descent, Ousmane, who is giving her precious advice.

Paula has a communication device that is always airing some message about merchandise, moving apparel from one shop to another and her new friend tells her to switch it off.
Indeed, while on lunch break, she deserves some rest and to eat the meal in peace...

The generous, affectionate man offers her his food.
They become close and the woman visits him at his flat, where his daughter is sleeping.

She has brought some alcohol and although he does not drink, he accepts to have some, while she eats.
Alas, unused with drink, the man is soon to inebriated for anything but sleep.

They were getting ready to consummate their ever increasing rapprochement, Paula undressing him, without a final effect.
He has passed out.

The young woman who has no money and somber perspectives discovers she is pregnant.
When her former lover finally catches up with her, after many calls, she tells him she does not want to keep the child.

He attempts to make love to her and when she rejects him, it looks like there may be a rape.
Fortunately, it does not happen.

To repeat in conclusion:

Jeune Femme is better than A Star is Born...the Lady Gaga version anyway.