Film inspired by Freud's work

La Gradiva, directed by Marine Atlan, premiered in theaters on October 21, 2026, after winning the Grand Prix de la Semaine de la critique at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is based on a 1907 book by Sigmund Freud that analyzed a 1903 story by Wilhelm Jensen, which itself was a Pompeian fantasy about an archaeologist obsessed with a bas-relief.

Story of high school students in Naples

The film follows a group of high school students on a school trip to Naples, where they explore the ruins of Pompeii. It delves into themes of adolescent desire, existential anxiety, and the tension between ancient history and modern life, though the title's historical reference is not essential to the plot.

Atlan's background and creative inspiration

Marine Atlan is known for her work as a director of photography on films such as Le Ravissement (2023), Les Reines du drame (2024), and L'Engloutie (2025). She was inspired to create La Gradiva after a commission from Arte to make a film on adolescence with non-professional actors and limited budgets, even though that project did not come to fruition.

Exploring ancient ruins as a metaphor for youth

Atlan describes the ruins of Pompeii as "an immense out-of-frame" where one can imagine countless scenes of daily life before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The film uses these ancient sites as a metaphor for the complexity of youth, blending adolescent experiences with the echoes of the past.

Blending genres and focusing on character depth

La Gradiva combines comedy, tragedy, documentary realism, and surreal dreams to reflect the ambivalence of existence. Atlan's direction emphasizes the inner mythologies of her characters, from the insolence of Toni to the silent anger of Suzanne, and explores the collision between fantasy and reality.

Authentic portrayal of modern adolescence

Atlan and screenwriter Anne Brouillet spent months observing high school students to ensure the film's authenticity. It captures the distress, loneliness, social violence, inequalities, and academic pressure faced by today's youth, presenting a portrayal that is both luminous and hopeful, reflecting a politically aware generation.