LA VIE CONTINUE

Born in Egypt, director Moshe Mizrahi divides his time between France and Israel. His Oscar-nominated early films (1972's “I Love You Rosa” and 1973's “The House on Chelouche Street”) were partially autobiographical stories dealing with the interdependence of women and children, a theme further enriched by Mizrahi's Oscar-winning adaptation of “Madame Rosa” (1977) from Emile Ajar's novel. Simone Signoret won the French “Cesar” as Rosa and also starred in Mizrahi's “I Sent a Letter to My Love” (1980). Currently France's most popular actress, Annie Girardot stars as Jeanne, a role written with her in mind, in LA VIE CONTINUE, reuniting with her co-star from “No Time For Breakfast” (1975), Jean-Pierre Cassel. Jeanne, happily married with three teen-aged children, is suddenly forced to cope with widowhood and making it on her own, both financially and emotionally. After 20 years of marriage, Jeanne's struggle towards a new identity includes finding a job and a new love relationship. While warding off the unwelcome advances of strangers and a solicitous brother-in-law, Jeanne responds to the attentions of Pierre (Jean-Pierre Cassel). Pierre and Jeanne's love affair seems to promise renewed happiness, but Pierre's divorce isn't quite as final as he claims. Yet life goes on, as Jeanne's courage confirms. “Compelling, engrossing. . .Annie Girardot is radiant. . .” – Rex Reed, New York Daily News