Rust and Bone

Jacques Audiard follows up his electrifying Un prophète with this tender/brutal Côte d’Azur-set drama (inspired by Canadian writer Craig Davidson’s like-titled short story collection) featuring the rising Belgian star Matthias Schoenaerts (Bullhead) and French superstar Marion Cotillard (La vie en rose, The Dark Knight Rises). Schoenaerts is Ali, a damaged—both physically and socially—boxer who’s moved to Antibes with his five-year-old son and taken up residence with his sister. He cadges odd jobs as a bouncer and one day he rescues the lovely Stephanie (Cotillard) from a brawl, takes her home, and despite their obvious differences, makes a connection. Stephanie is a whale trainer at the local Marineland where, soon after, she suffers an awful accident that leaves her a double amputee. Bypassing her boyfriend and usual circle, she calls Ali…

"By French standards, the film is a massive undertaking, serving up a grueling yet dignified role for the country’s hottest young starlet and an appropriately bull-headed showcase for Schoenaerts (who can also speak English and will soon be an international name). Though Audiard already commands respect, the film’s cred is amplified by the involvement of the Dardenne brothers, who produced… [The film] blends Dardennes-esque naturalism—handheld cameras; raw, tempestuous performances; squalidly realistic production design—with more conventional plotting and compositions… orchestrated for maximum poetic effect."—Peter Debruge, Variety