Head Above Water

Like a bolt from the blue "feel good " cinema scene .

Based on her own true story,Margaux Bonhomme did not choose the easy way out.Warts and all best depicts her movie which might be unbearable for some viewers ;the reviews were mixed in France where the director was accused of giving a clumsy self-pitying rendition of her hard years;It was proved wrong when both thespians were awarded prizes for best actresses.

Diane Rouxel is actually sober in her portrayal of a girl who sacrifices her studies and her own time to her multi -disabled sister Manon;her commitment to her sibling is extraordinary ,recalling sometimes Anne Bancroft's admirable performance in " miracle worker" ;she really puts her heart and soul into it. The same goes for Jeanne Cohendy's playing which is so realistic that I thought they had hired a real disabled person : like a dislocated puppet, moaning, whining,squealing all through the movie, her performance is so intense that the viewer feels sometimes like putting his fingers in his ears .It takes a lot of guts to hold such a thankless part.

Good support by Cedric Kahn as the devoted father who explains how to deal with the unfortunate Manon to the dull -witted helper who ties the poor girl to her chair .The mother ,on the other hand ,seems selfish and does not seem to care anymore :her best wish is to get rid of this "real nuisance " by putting her in a center for disabled persons.

Moments of happiness are few and far between : bathing in the river (but where the sisters almost get drowned) ; the parade when one of the musicians invites Manon to dance to the music (but which makes the last picture even more bitter and depressing).

Filmed in the mountain,with a great economy of means , "Marche Ou Crève" (=do or die) ,is a gut-wrenching performance.