"Mireille et Lucien" is a nice Belgian little film in which Philippe Blasband, its writer-director, manages to encapsulate an unexpected romantic encounter, the birth of a mutual love, the formation and the consolidation - after a few hitches - of a couple. No easy feat in no more than 22 minutes and 58 seconds, but Blasband (who, three years later, would direct the amazing "Un honnête commerçant") fares quite well in the given circumstances. Of course there are ellipses and narrative shortcuts but, on the whole, the intended goal has been reached. This is in fact a special love story : nothing to do with Claude Lelouch's cha-ba-da-ba-da "Man and a Woman" or the tear-jerking "Love Story". Told in a slightly quirky tone (the small-time gangsters, the crazy car collision), "Mireille et Lucien" deftly avoids saccharine sentimentality. Likewise, the romance unfurls not in a haze of dream and fantasy but in a realistic everyday environment (the plain streets of Schaerbeek, one of Brussels' working class areas). As a result Mireille and Lucien are real people. They may not make us dream but, by way of compensation, we grow fond of them for being our neighbors. And how couldn't we be fond of them ? Two human beings, battered by life, who try to reconstruct themselves while supporting each other, can only attract sympathy. On the male side, there is Lucien Pointeur, an ordinary man who was condemned for the rape of a minor and has just been released after seven years in prison. On the female side, Mireille (this is not her real name), a young woman whose younger years have been marred because of a degenerative disease. Played to perfection by two wonderfully unaffected actors, Serge Larivière (a short chubby bespectacled man without apparent charm) and Aylin Yay (as good in dreamy restraint as in verbal logorrhea), Mireille and Lucien exist in three dimensions. So, if you are up to a love story that is not the standard romcom, if you like stories oscillating between drama and comedy, if you like real people on the screen... this one is for you.

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)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

Mireille would like to forget the devils of her childhood. Lucien would like to forget his past of prisoner. By chance or by accident, they meet. From now one together, they will learn to love each other.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Mireille et Lucien

Photos

Top Cast6

User reviews1

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed