Abuse of Weakness

While recovering from a stroke she suffered in 2004, Breillat began working on a film project with someone who turned out to be a notorious conman. Abuse of Weakness is an unsentimental and fascinating adaptation of this autobiographical tale with the great Isabelle Huppert in the lead role, playing a filmmaker who seeks out a criminal to star in her next film. The balance of power slowly shifts as the crook (French rap star Kool Shen) begins to take advantage of his situation and his employer’s physical and emotional frailty. (105 mins., DCP)

Special thanks to Unifrance for their generous support of this retrospective.