The Witnesses

Les Témoins
France 2007 114min subtitled
Dir: André Techiné
Starring: Michel Blanc, Emmanuelle Beart, Sami Bouajila, Julie Depardieu, Johan Libereau

Beautifully shot in two parts, this lively, sharp, colourful and impressive adult drama delves into the unexpected consequences of a summer of fickle loyalties, guiltless dalliances and fluid love.

It’s the summer of 1984 and Sarah (Beart) is finding it difficult to connect with her new baby. Her depression is compounded by writers block and her vice squad husband, Mehdi (Bouajila), who cannot understand what she finds so difficult. Meanwhile, Sarah’s best friend, Adrien (Blanc) is besotted with young, delectable and carefree Manu (Libérau). In need of a holiday, the four head away from the heat of the city to the coast. When Manu is rescued from the sea by Mehdi, the two embark on a summer affair. But the summer cannot last for ever and soon the darkness of winter and the emergence of a new, mysterious life-threatening disease casts a sobering shadow on their lives.

JHB     Fri 2 / 8.30pm          Mon 5 / 9.15pm     Thu 8 / 6.45pm
CT    Sat 10 / 10.15pm     Tue 13 / 9.15pm    Fri 16 / 8.30pm