A playful inversion of screen personae
Marc Fitoussi’s film-biz comedy All About Corinne (originally titled Ni vue, ni connue) hinges on a droll piece of casting. Isabelle Huppert, one of France’s definitive cinematic icons, plays Corinne Maclou, a jobbing movie extra in her sixties whose name and face are routinely forgotten on set. Opposite her stands Sandrine Kiberlain, playing an imperious version of herself as Corinne’s haughty foil.
As critic Guy Lodge notes, the production relies on both stars playing freely with their respective screen personae. Corinne spends decades working at the least glamorous end of the film industry, hoping for stardom while fighting for the occasional single line. Her attempts to curry favor with A-listers by remarking on their physical resemblances lead to squirm-inducing comedy, underscored by a gentle pathos regarding her unrecognized talent.
Plot dynamics and festival run
Corinne’s persistence eventually intersects with a period of insecurity for Kiberlain, who is attempting to cultivate a more down-to-earth public image. After Corinne presses her CV and a recording of an obscure Chilean play onto the leading lady, Kiberlain later takes the play to the Paris stage. This development triggers a bitter confrontation outside the theater, leading to a conditional friendship where Corinne seeks a connection to the top while Kiberlain looks to keep grounded.
The feature also includes appearances by other recognizable actors playing versions of themselves, such as Emmanuelle Bercot directing a period drama and Diane Kruger competing with Kiberlain for casting in a Dardenne Brothers film set in Liège.
Produced by Avenue B Prods., Beside Prods., Égérie Prods., and Les Films du Camelia in France, with Paris-based Indie Sales handling world sales, the 115-minute feature premiered as the closing night selection at Locarno before screening at festivals in Toronto and Busan.