This is Marie Garrel-Weiss's first effort as a full-lengh feature film ,and although a bit handicapped by a sometimes desultory script ,it's definitely a promising start .
Two addicts ,Celeste and Sehem meet in a detox-center
More than a film about drug addiction, it's the story of a beautiful friendship between two women with its ups and downs .
The first in the detox mansion is mainly a documentary with the therapy groups (in which it's not that much easy to integrate) ; to follow the rigid rules is not an easy task either .
Expelled from the center , left to their own devices , to their demons , to become clean is all the more out of reach ; Sehem returns to her family's apartment,but she's not the welcome ;as for Celeste ,we know nothing about hers ,but she longs to share a place with her friend .(the director does not fall into the trendy trap of lesbianism : both are straight ).But together , each girl ,serves as a " crutch to the other " ; the social worker (who,as a heavy smoker ,which is also a nasty addiction,is a curious adviser) has a clear understanding
of their problem ; as far as they are concerned , their friendship can be sustained,provided that they keep themselves at a distance .
The ending is a wonderful message of hope ,and with a remarkable economy of means, after so much pain and despair,the director achieves the incredible feat of leaving the viewer happy.
