On My Way

Very few road-movies are made in France, especially depicting a mature woman in the lead role. In this film about new beginnings in later life, director Bercot addresses age without stigmatizing it and brings relatable, ordinary people to portray real characters. All of Bercot's previous movies were about teenagers but the real departure from Bercot's traditional narrative is the overall light-hearted, optimistic tone.

What starts as a quick drive to clear her head after being jilted by her lover, 60 something former beauty queen and family restaurant owner Bettie (Catherine Deneuve), ends on a road trip that leads to chance encounters and renewed ties with her estranged daughter Muriel.

In a role specifically written for her, Catherine Deneuve delivers a stellar performance of Bettie undergoing a gradual liberating transformation. Besides Deneuve, the only real actresses in the film were Claude Gensac, Hafsia Herzi and Mylene Demongeot, all representing Bettie's youth.

The remainder of the cast consists of an incredible array of characters, none of whom are actors. Echoing Bercot's previous teenager films is Bettie's daughter Muriel, played in a debut performance by the singer Camille. It is also the first cinema role for Nemo Schiffman, the son of Bercot, as the vivacious Charly. While avoiding cliché scenarios, performances include some improvisation. Awesome is the scene with the elderly man painstakingly trying to roll a cigarette for Bettie. A classic.

DP Guillaume Schiffman enhances Catherine Deneuve's character through closeup shots against picturesque images of rural French countryside.