About

An ecstatic, romantic, chaotic swirl of a film, The Lovers on the Bridge features the striking combination of three of France’s film luminaries: director Leos Carax and actors Juliette Binoche alongside Denis Lavant. A film made early in the careers of all three creatives, it had a strong, positive influence on their later film trajectories.

Binoche delivers a wild, free-wheeling performance as Michèle, a young, homeless artist sketching on the Paris streets looking for a place to sleep. Due to a disease, she is losing her sight and feels the acute immediacy of time running out as her world is slowly dimming. Alex, played by the magnetic actor and dancer Denis Lavant, is a fire-breathing acrobat sleeping on the streets because of an alcohol and sedative addiction. The film follows their tumultuous story and passionate embrace of what potential life they may have together.

The shoot took place over three years in which both actors turned down other high-profile directors to support Carax’s vision. The character Michèle’s drawings are Juliet Binoche’s own work – the actor began her creative career as a performer as well as a visual artist and continues her painting practice today.

M | Medium level violence, Coarse language, Adult themes