A Second Life
| A Second Life | |
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Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Laurent Slama |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Laurent Slama |
| Edited by | Souliman Schelfout |
| Music by | Jean-Charles Bastion |
Production company | 21 Juin CinémaLoulou |
Release date |
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Running time | 77 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Languages |
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A Second Life is a 2025 French drama film written and directed by Laurent Slama and starring Agathe Rousselle and Alex Lawther.[1]
Plot
During the Olympic Games in Paris, Elisabeth, a hearing-impaired woman grappling with depression, manages short-term rentals while seeking respite from the city's chaos by removing her hearing aids. Her day shifts dramatically when she meets Elijah, a free-spirited Californian, and finds a rare connection amid the noise of the opening ceremony.[2][3]
Cast
- Agathe Rousselle as Elisabeth
- Alex Lawther as Elijah
- Suzy Bemba
- Jonas Bachan
Production
The film was largely shot on location in Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympics with a minimal crew.[4]
Release
The film premiered at Tribeca Film Festival on 6 June 2025 in the International Narrative Competition.[2] The film later screened as a Special Screening at the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in July 2025.[5][3]
Reception
The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the film "avoids most of the clichés of your touristy Paris-set drama, all while using the genuine magic of the French capital," and praised Agathe Rousselle for carrying "a compellingly off-the-cuff Paris movie".[6]
Cineuropa described it as "a beautiful platonic encounter" during the Paris Olympics, lauding its sensory depiction of Elisabeth’s perspective.[5] James Y. Lee of Film Obsessive called it "a dramatically anodyne experience, where even on a formal and visual level, there’s very little about the film that excels."[7]
References
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (17 April 2025). "MMM Film Sales To Launch Tribeca Title 'A Second Life' With 'Titane' Star Agathe Rousselle & Alex Lawther At Cannes Market". Deadline. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ a b "A Second Life". Tribeca Festival. Archived from the original on 11 August 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
- ^ a b "A Second Life". Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
- ^ "Interview with "A Second Life" Director, Laurent Slama at Tribeca 2025". Cinemasters. 10 June 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
- ^ a b Popp, Olivia (13 June 2025). "Review: A Second Life". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 19 July 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
- ^ Felperin, Leslie (21 June 2025). "'A Second Life' Review: Agathe Rousselle, Star of Palme d'Or Winner 'Titane,' Carries a Compellingly Off-the-Cuff Paris Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
- ^ Lee, James Y. (19 June 2025). "Tribeca 2025: A Second Life Is an Overbearing Plea for Connection". Film Obsessive. Retrieved 21 October 2025.