LES AMANDIERS

2022 / 126 min / color

The new film by acclaimed European actress and filmmaker Valeria Bruni Tedeschi is set in late 1980s France. France. She points her lens at a group of young people facing an important test in life: : the entrance exam for Les Amandiers, the prestigious theater school in Nanterre, created by Patrice Chéreau and Pierre Romans. Anyone serious about pursuing a career on the stage dreams of studying at this avant-garde establishment. The lucky ones who get a chance to make their dreams come true include Stella (Nadia Tereszkiewicz, who won a César for the role), a determined girl from a wealthy family; the charismatic Adèle (Clara Bretheau); and Étienne (Sofiane Bennacer), who’s both talented and confused. Basing the film on her own experiences as a young woman, Bruni Tedeschi shows the spectrum of often extreme emotions that the characters experience every day as they take their first steps in acting. This absorbing and nostalgic story examines the relationship dynamics that form within the group, while also making it clear that there can be a high price to pay for pursuing your dreams.

• César Awards – Most Promising Actress (Nadia Tereszkiewicz)
• Lumiere Awards – Most Promising Actress (Nadia Tereszkiewicz)