Some individuals bear memories that outweigh their capacity to process, locking them away to avoid succumbing to despair. This is especially applicable when it comes to traumatic incidents over which they had no control. Some can progress without recalling these memories, but for others, understanding these events is vital for their emotional wellbeing and healing.
In "Revoir Paris," Mia, played by Virginie Efira, is on a journey to uncover the memories of a horrifying mass shooting at a local bistro in Paris. Despite being a survivor of the attack, Mia struggles to recall how she survived. Initially, Mia is seen juggling her job and relationship with Vincent. Eventually, she is seen in isolation, writing at the café.
The calm atmosphere at the bistro is abruptly shattered by gunshots, inducing panic amongst the patrons and staff. The focus is not on the source but the response to the violence. Director Alice Winocour intentionally obscures how Mia survived.
As life refuses to return to normal for Mia, she embarks on a journey to reconcile with her past. She attempts to gather information about her whereabouts during the attack and about the kind-hearted cook who provided support. On this journey, she encounters other attack survivors, each grappling with their trauma uniquely.
"Revoir Paris" delivers a sensitive narrative blending the cold hues of trauma with the warm undertones of human connection, evoking a resemblance to Atom Egoyan’s early works like "Exotica" and "The Sweet Hereafter". Much like Egoyan's films, the characters in "Revoir Paris" share a bond of grief. The visuals and narrative blend into a dream-like exploration of survivor's experiences, punctuated by shifts in perspective.
The actor Virginie Efira, as Mia, delivers a powerful and restrained performance, much like her previous roles in "Benedetta" and "Sybil." Nastya Golubeva, who plays another survivor Félicia, and Sofia Lesaffre, as a character named Nour who continues to work at the bistro post shooting, also provide noteworthy contributions to the ensemble cast.
