My New Friends

Lucie (Isabelle Huppert) works in law enforcement and struggles with the profession after her partner’s untimely death. She befriends a small family who just moved into the house next to hers but is taken aback when artist Yann (Nahuel Pérez Biscayart), whom she encountered as an affectionate father, displays strong anti-police sentiments and actively takes part in demonstrations.

The opening scene shows Huppert at a rally calling for more protection for policemen and women and Yann’s wife (Hafsia Herzi) participates in teacher strikes, making it hard to grasp why only Yann’s political involvement is taken offence with. The fact that Lucie’s dead partner was not only a Black police officer but a first-generation immigrant is barely dealt with, the criticism of systemic rights violations within the force comes only from Yann’s experience with police brutality.

In general, the script’s lackadaisical composition of circumstances unfortunately makes it difficult for the viewer to sustainably engage with the issues at hand. Similarly to controversial Cannes film The Divide from 2021, one could argue that these films are Trojan horses, their existence perhaps a front for filmmakers to stand on a soap box, instead of inviting political discourse to arise organically from a fictitious appraisal of current events.

While both parties’ livelihoods are at stake, the extent of the dramatic hero’s fall feels surprisingly cushioned. A greater escalation or sense of threat would have made this a more captivating narrative. Instead, the piece practically disappears in the details of Lucie’s characterisation.

Nonetheless, this film may attract viewers from different sides of the police abolition movement, due to the vibrant lead actors. Huppert and Pérez Biscayart operate on their habitual standard, which is so exquisitely top-notch, they sometimes accidentally outact their scene partners.

Formidable performances from the French elite makes this new social drama from director André Téchiné worth watching, even as the central political debate falls short.

Selina Sondermann

My New Friends does not have a UK release date yet.

Read more reviews from our Berlin Film Festival 2024 coverage here.

For further information about the event visit the Berlin Film Festival website here.