Arnaud Desplechin presented La Musica deuxième at the Vieux Colombier, a play that examines the aftermath of a separation where no explanations have been given. The piece draws inspiration from a closed-door play written by Marguerite Duras, which she intended to perform herself. For this production at the Comédie Française, Desplechin offers a staging that is both restrained and imaginative. The play divides the audience at the Vieux Colombier into two groups, mirroring the division between the two main characters. Though separated, the characters remain close, recalling moments from their past relationship. They still love each other but are also in conflict, unable to find peace in their former relationship. Tensions run high, with emotions such as tears and anger frequently surfacing. Misunderstandings weigh heavily, and neither character fully understands what led to their breakdown. To explore the past, Desplechin uses a transparent screen that sometimes creates distance from the narrative, allowing for the projection of scenes or dances. Anne-Marie, played brilliantly by Adeline d'Hermi, appears to have moved on more easily. Though lighter in demeanor, she has not forgotten the pain of their relationship, which often left her alone in places like the forest, at the cinema, or in hotel bars. Michel, who was the first to cheat on her, has not forgotten the jealousy that consumed him, especially when she also began to cheat on him in an attempt to revive the passion of their early days. Both characters try to understand their past and find answers, emerging exhausted after a night of intense discussion in the hotel lobby, once the place of their love. They fail to understand each other fully or to accept their relationship as it was, but at the moment of possibly their last meeting, they are unable to part. Desplechin’s modest staging allows the actors to deliver a powerful performance where emotions intertwine. The couple attracts and repels each other, moving around each other like dancers unraveling the story of their misunderstandings, which ultimately destroyed their relationship. Positioned at opposite ends of the stage, sometimes close or on the floor, the couple struggles, almost to the edge of madness or death, as he nearly killed her, and she still wonders why he didn't. After this intense night, which resolves nothing except the realization that they still love each other despite being unable to live together, the two ex-spouses finally separate to be with their new partners. What remains is a bitter sense of a missed opportunity, and perhaps a life that was ruined. The play features a strong script and a poignant interpretation, though at times it feels distant, as if the intense emotions on stage do not always reach the audience, who are left as passive observers. Photo credit: © Agathe Poupeney