French Film Club: Rust and Bone with Marion Cotillard

Last night I watched the French film Rust and Bone, directed by Jacques Audiard and starring Marion Cotillard. It is a starkly honest performance from Cotillard, as a whale trainer who loses her legs in a freak accident. But in fact, the storyline focuses more on her love interest, the bare-knuckle fighter Alain, played by Mathias Schoenaerts. He is a troubled soul who moves from Belgium to Antibes with his young son. The film charts their turbulent relationship as Cotillard's character, Stephanie, comes to terms with her disability.

For me, as a film that was greatly advertised as Cotillard's 'next Oscar', it was let down by the lack of onscreen airtime with the actress. This is not to say it was not an intense, gritty drama, with a superb performance from Schoenaerts. Perhaps he is as worthy of the accolade as the big name Hollywood actress, indeed, I certainly prefer Cotillard in smaller, independent films than big blockbusters.