Name: Le quatrième morceau de la femme coupée en trois
Genre: Drama
Released: 2007-03-07
Duration: 1 h 10 min
Rating: 5.9
Cast: Laure Marsac, Denis Podalydès, Claire Borotra

The first feature film by actress-turned-director Laure Marsac, 'Le quatrième morceau de la femme coupée en trois' ("The Fourth Piece of a Woman Cut in Three") is divided, as the title suggests, into three parts. Each of the sections give the first-time director a different subject, theme and treatment to work with and demonstrate her ability. The first section shows Louise (Laure Marsac) learning to drive with a particularly grouchy driving instructor (Denis Podalydès). The second piece shows her having passed her test getting stuck in the car park of an out-of-town shopping centre. Evoked by her experiences of wanting to drive, the third part of the film is a memory of a significant car journey she undertook with her mother as a young child.

As the title also suggests, the connections between each of the three sections of the film give light to a fourth part, an unspoken element never made explicit, that suggests complex reasons for Louise's desire to drive and be independent. Marsac manages to evoke memories and sentiments as a strong, formative influence through light, music and contemplation in a manner that recalls Sofia Coppola's expert working with mood in 'The Virgin Suicides' and succeeds in elevating the film from the mundanity of its seemingly commonplace situations.

As well as demonstrating strong technical, structural and writing skills as a first-time director, Marsac also shows that, like Eric Rohmer, she is capable of drawing subtle resonances from the mundane and the ordinary aspects of life from a uniquely female perspective (the director refers to this accordingly as the "perfume" of the film). The sentiments evoked by 'Le quatrième morceau de la femme coupée en trois' are certainly minor, but expertly achieved, they show no small amount of talent.

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

Le quatrième morceau de la femme coupée en trois

Louise, in her thirties, is trying to learn to drive. Although she really wants to achieve it, Louise knows with everyday life and material, and therefore cars, the difficulties of a dreamer, never really adapted to the world around her.

Le quatrième morceau de la femme coupée en trois (2007)

Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC)

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Le 4ème morceau de la femme coupée en trois

Le quatrième morceau de la femme coupée en trois

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