A COUPLE

A Refocus Film Festival Selection

At 92 years old, legendary documentarian Frederick Wiseman (Titicut Follies) has made only a couple fiction films. His latest is one of those rare instances yet again, a collaboration with Nathalie Boutefeu who co-wrote and stars in this adaptation of letters and diary entries from Leo and Sophia Tolstoy. Despite his renown and his riches, the couple's relationship was often rocky, with Leo insisting that he and his wife read aloud from their diaries to guests at dinner parties. Filmed in a lush and sprawling garden in Bailleul, northern France, this monologue sees Boutefeu as Sofia reflecting on the ups and downs of her relationship as a young bride to the towering figure of Russian literature. The verdant setting contrasts with some of the icy experiences recounted, providing a tranquil backdrop for often fraught situations. With a career that spans more than thirty years of acting, writing, and directing, Nathalie Boutefeu provides a powerful performance as the sole figure on the screen for the film's entire runtime.

Official Selection: 2022 Venice, New York film festivals