Novel explores a Russian actress in Paris

In Grenouille, Sergueï Shikalov recounts a few hours in the life of a Russian actress living in exile in Paris, exploring the contradictions and tensions of a consciousness caught between two fires. The novel, published by Seuil, spans 224 pages and costs 20 €.

Setting and symbolism

The novel begins and ends with curtains—the first from a home ("She liked to fall asleep with the curtains open") and the second from a stage closing a performance. This framing device underscores the protagonist’s dual existence between personal life and public performance.

Character and identity

The narrative focuses on a few hours in the life of a woman, described as a star, a diva, and a Russian actress-director, with stage presence akin to Isabelle Huppert and cinematic radicalism similar to Lars von Trier. The woman, whose full name is revealed only towards the end of the book, left Russia during the invasion of Ukraine, believing the war would not last indefinitely on European soil.

Exile and self-identification

She does not identify as an exile but instead appropriates the term "temporary displaced person," a label used for Ukrainians. She is described as a "Soviet woman wearing an Italian perfume and living in Paris," and she does not conform to the image of a Western stereotype of a refugee, as she dresses elegantly, drinks champagne, smokes cigarettes, and posts on Instagram.

Challenges and context

She faces challenges with her bank account due to measures against Russian citizens and struggles with her identity as an "ordinary woman" in a foreign country. The novel follows her day as she navigates the administrative challenges of the French system and prepares for the last of three performances of her play, also titled Grenouille.

Play as allegory

The play itself is an allegory mixing La Fontaine's fable and Orwellian pamphlet, using a story of frogs, toads, and herons to reflect on contemporary Russia and the president's voracious appetite. The title also references the parable of the frog boiled in water, a metaphor used by Billy Wilder in his film.

Expectations and reality

The novel does not satisfy the expectations of a Western public that would like to present the protagonist as a dissident with a frontal stance, as the play is described as timid. Faina, the protagonist, is caught between the madness of being suspected and required to "condemn the war" and the lack of discussion about Russians trapped in their country.

Themes and complexity

The novel also explores the transformations in Russian patriotism and the state's wars against its own people. As the narrative progresses, the protagonist's image evolves, revealing complexities and moral ambiguities. The reader is invited to a moment of realization and epiphany, understanding that the woman they thought they grasped is more complex and morally less pure than initially imagined.

Ambiguous conclusion

The conclusion of the narrative is left to the reader's interpretation, allowing for various perspectives on the figure caught between two waters.