The Big Picture (French original title L'Homme qui voulait vivre sa vie – "The man who wanted to live his life") is a 2010 French psychological thriller directed by Éric Lartigau, and starring Romain Duris, Marina Foïs, Niels Arestrup and Catherine Deneuve. The story is adapted from the 1997 novel The Big Picture by Douglas Kennedy.
Synopsis
Paul Exben is a remarkable success story: a partner in one of Paris's most prestigious law firms, boasting a substantial salary, a spacious home, a glamorous wife, and two sons who could easily grace the pages of a high-end fashion catalog. However, his world shatters when he uncovers his wife Sarah's affair with Greg Kremer, a local photographer. In a moment of passionate fury, Paul commits a fatal mistake. As he stands over the lifeless body of his wife's lover, Paul comprehends that his once-perfect life is irreversibly shattered.
But rather than succumb to his grim circumstances, Paul decides to seize a radical opportunity. Assuming the identity of the deceased man, he escapes to a remote region in former Yugoslavia, nestled along the enchanting Adriatic coast. In this secluded refuge, Paul is granted a second chance at being true to himself and, finally, gaining a profound perspective on the grand tapestry of life.
Cast
Romain Duris - Paul Exben
Marina Foïs - Sarah Exben
Niels Arestrup - Bartholomé
Branka Katić - Ivana
Catherine Deneuve - Anne
Éric Ruf - Grégoire Kremer
Reception
The film was critically praised. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 88% based on reviews from 41 critics, with an average score of 7/10.
References
External links
The Big Picture at the British Film Institute
The Observer, 24 July 2011: The Big Picture — review Retrieved 2012-12-03
Background article by Michel Guerrin on Antoine D'Agata's photography for the film, in Le Monde, 2 novembre 2010. [in French]