Simone Weil: woman of the century ★★★
BIOGRAPHY (2022)
Directed by: Olivier Dahan
Cast: Elsa Silberstein, Rebecca Marder.

The biography of Simone Weil, one of Europe’s most prominent political figures of the 20th century, is featured here in an epic (and lengthy) film that explores every aspect of her life and work. The story begins in 1974, when then-health minister Vail is fighting to pass the abortion bill, a landmark event for women’s rights in France and the rest of Europe. From there, the extended timeframe sends us back and forth from the World War II era, when the teenage Weil ended up with the rest of her family in Nazi concentration camps, to the 2000s, when she was admitted to the French Academy and received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. , the highest recognition of the French state.

Dahan’s approach is about big things: passing the abortion bill, working to improve conditions in prisons, and combating the stigmatization of AIDS patients.

The two actresses, acclaimed Elsa Silberstein and up-and-coming Rebecca Marder, have successfully shared female lead roles for decades. Director and screenwriter Olivier Dahan for his part (wisely) chooses a non-linear narrative, constantly shifting our attention between the various stages of Weil’s life and political career. His approach is mostly thematic and related to important events: the adoption of the abortion bill we mentioned above, the work to improve the (deplorable) living conditions in French prisons, the fight against AIDS and the stigmatization of patients, her symbolic and main elections for the presidency of the European Parliament in 1979, becoming the first woman to hold the post.

Then there are more personal matters. The relationship with her husband Antoine Vail, the sudden death of her sister Milo, and of course the shocking experience of war and camps that recurs over and over again throughout the film will be detailed in its final installment. Dahan portrays all of this, adapting his image on several occasions, especially in prison or camp scenes that seem to be taken from nightmarish fantasy.

At the same time, however, this particular part of the movie could have had a bit more cohesion, as it takes on a flatter, narrative tone rather easily than before.