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On a Magical Night
Chambre 212
2019 88 min France, Luxembourg, Belgium 18+
★6.2
Comedy, Drama
Director: Christophe Honoré
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
After 20 years of marriage, Maria decides to leave her husband. She moves into room 212 at the hotel across the street, with a bird’s-eye view of her apartment, her husband and the life she shared with him. While she wonders if she made the right decision, many of the people in her life offer their opinions on the matter. They intend to let her know, whether she likes it or not, on what proves to be a life-changing evening.
Worldwide:
$2.97M
Starring
Chiara Mastroianni
Actor
Benjamin Biolay
Actor
Vincent Lacoste
Actor
Awards
Cannes Film Festival 2019
— Un Certain Regard – Best Actress
Cannes Film Festival 2019
— Un Certain Regard
César Awards 2020
— Best Actress
Key opinion
Chambre 212 is a visually stylized, theatrical exploration of long-term marriage that blends comedy, fantasy, and domestic drama. While many critics admire the performances and atmospheric aesthetic, others feel the film's narrative resolution is unsatisfying and the character motivations remain opaque.
| Acting | Chiara Mastroianni anchors the film with a sincere and charismatic performance as the conflicted Maria. | |
| Production | The film’s aesthetic, characterized by an atmospheric hotel setting and elegant visual composition, effectively mirrors the protagonists' internal states. | |
| Acting | Vincent Lacoste brings charm and vulnerability to the role of the husband, providing an essential emotional balance to the narrative. | |
| Originality | The narrative structure, which weaves together memories and hallucinations into a single-room theatrical framework, receives polarized reactions: some find it inventive and poetic, while others view it as narratively messy or hollow. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is praised for its wit and exploration of modern gender dynamics, yet criticized for failing to provide clear motivations for the characters' choices or a definitive emotional payoff. |