Top 150 Most Anticipated Foreign Films of 2020: #30. Le sel des larmes – Philippe Garrel

Le sel des larmes

2020 will see the premiere of the 27th feature by French auteur Philippe Garrel with The Salt of Tears, which reunites him with scribes Jean-Claude Carriere and Arlette Langmann (who penned Garrel’s last two features, In the Shadow of Women and Lover for a Day—not to forget, iconic scribe Carriere also wrote Louis Garrel’s A Faithful Man in 2018). DP Renato Berta (who lensed Garrel’s last two feature) is on board, as is producer Edouard Weil (who previously produced A Burning Hot Summer and Frontier of Dawn for the director). Garrel’s youthful cast consists of Louise Chevillotte (who made her debut in Lover for a Day and has since starred in Nadav Lapid’s Synonyms and Verhoeven’s upcoming Benedetta), Oulaya Amamra (Cesar winner for 2017’s Divines), Souheila Yacoub (of Noe’s Climax, 2018), Andre Wilms (of Kaurismaki’s Le Havre, 2011) and newcomer Logann Antuofermo. Garrel competed in Cannes with 2008’s Frontier of the Dawn, while his 2015 title In the Shadow of Women opened Director’s Fortnight and 2017’s Lover for a Day won an SACD prize out of Fortnight. Historically, Venice has been much more lucrative for Garrel, competing six times for the Golden Lion: I Don’t Hear the Guitar Anymore (1991, winner of the Silver Lion); Night Wind (1999); Wild Innocence (2001, winner of the FIPRESCI Prize); Regular Lovers (2005, winning Best Director); 2013’s Jealousy (read review).

Gist: Garrel’s latest tells the story of a young man’s relationship with three women, more or less simultaneously, as well as detailing his affinity for his father.

Release Date/Prediction: Garrel filmed in April and May of 2019. While he’s competed most in Venice, we assume with an April France release date that Garrel will compete in Berlin.