La Petite Lili (R)

by Claude Miller

Five years after adapting Emmanuel Carrère's novel The Class Trip, for which he received the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes in 1998, celebrated director Claude Miller presents La Petite Lili, a contemporary version of Anton Chekhov's classic play The Seagull with the gorgeous Ludivine Sagnier (Swimming Pool, 8 Femmes) playing the beguiling wannabe starlet, Lili.

Famous actress Mado (Nicola Garcia) is on vacation at the family beach-house, accompanied by her son Julien (Robinson Stevenin), brother Simon (Jean-Pierre Marielle) and lover Brice (Bernard Giraudeau), a well-known director. Julien is a young and aspiring filmaker who is madly in love with the sexy local sprite Lili, who steals away from her father to spend time with Julien and his circle (particularly Brice). Five years later, the ambitious Lili has become a famous young actress living in Paris. She learns by chance that Julien is making a first film about their summer together in Brittany.

Transposing the action from 19th century Russia to an idyllic setting in Southern Brittany, Nina to Lili and Madame Treplev into the actress Mado, Miller has expertly created a stunning reflection of the movie business and the shared ties of life.

Miller has assembled a fantastic ensemble cast, whom he directs with a master hand - they bring to the film an aptness for character, sly wit and truth. La Petite Lili premiered in Official Competition at Cannes in 2003.

France / Canada - 2003 - 94 mn - 1.85 - Dolby SR - French with English subtitles
Director: Claude Miller
Script: Claude Miller, Julien Boivent
With: Ludivine Sagnier, Nicole Garcia, Bernard Giraudeau, Robinson Stévenin, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Julie Depardieu, Yves Jacques, Anne Le Ny, Marc Betton