Down By Love

Based on a true story, Pierre Godeau's screenplay of "Down By Love" (French title: "�perdument") is based on the memoir by Florent Gon�alves and Catherine Siguret, about a forbidden/unethical love between a female inmate (the real Sorour Arbabzadeh) in a Versailles prison and the male warden (Gon�alves) who undoes his professional and personal life when he falls in love with her.

Young Anna Amari (Ad�le Exarchopoulos) is not having such a good life, and some of her bad behavior has landed her at this moderate French prison, run by a middle-aged, benevolent warden, Jean Firmino (Guillaume Gallienne of the famous acting troupe, La Com�die Fran�aise).

At first Warden Firmino finds Anna's youth and energy exciting and teachable, but soon enough he becomes a dawg, eventually falling in love with her. She isn't jaded by this, probably because he's the first man to want her for more than sexual abuse. But the other inmates are jealous and the gossip infects the staff, causing major disapprovement and giving him no end of trouble.

But this being a love story (however discomforting), Godeau manages to make it right for the duo, and for us. But what a distraction: Firmino has a loving wife and family; a great job; a bright future. That he is willing (or unable to resist) screwing it all up is very much part of the humanity of Godeau's film.

The acting is exemplary, with great chemistry between Gallienne and Exarchopoulos making it real for us, and strong support from the secondary cast. There's modest nudity (especially for her) and strong affection between them. That the situation is ambivalence itself does make for uncomfortable viewing. That love triumphs makes it all worthwhile.

Not for the morally squeamish, so if you do own a comfortable sophistication-hat, wear it; it's a smart ride.

"Down By Love" is to be released on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Comcast, Charter and Vudu from Distrib Films US.