Written and directed by Mélisa Godet, at the Maison des Femmes, women victims of violence are cared for. Elsewhere, they are threatened, brutalized, raped, mutilated, their suffering ignored. Here, they are listened to, supported, helped and believed. Starring: Karin Viard, Laetitia Dosch, Oulaya Amamra, Eye Haïdara, Pierre Deladonchamps, Juliette Armanet, Laurent Stocker, Jean-Charles Clichet and Aure Atika.
Violence against women is an extremely vital topic but it’s not solely about the abuse they suffer, it’s what happens after, and A Place for Her is a wonderful example of the type of care and consideration you’d wish for any woman who has experienced violence. Mélisa Godet unquestionably demonstrates the value of places like the Maison des Femmes, how they are life-saving resources. They provide space for women to not just heal physically but also mentally, having found themselves in such an intensely vulnerable and painful place, they’re guided to forge a way out of that place and that is a beautiful thing, which the film lovingly and expertly captures.
The beauty of its care and compassion is portrayed perfectly by the impeccable cast within A Place for Her. To see such a strong, kind, intelligent, relentless group of characters share the screen together is a truly wonderful experience, and that’s in no small part thanks to the actors who bring them to life. You can’t really single out any one actress because every single one of them does justice to this incredibly moving, impactful and poignant story.
They’re an intensely talented ensemble who fill the atmosphere with empathy and anger. Each of them represents both the deep desire to help these women rebuild their lives and the outright outrage at how hard they have to fight for resources because violence against women is so often overlooked, despite being so prevalent. As well as portraying how the landscape for domestic abuse was so vastly and harrowingly altered during Covid lockdowns.
Part of the reason why it’s so heartrending and touching is the style that Godet employs, one that is true to the everyday experience. She gives A Place for Her a sense of humour, she captures the struggle to balance home and work lives, and how they find solidarity and support in one another. On top of that, it’s genuinely joyful to see how their work impacts the patients, to see how they learn to trust again, and how they regain their sense of self, through both the doctors and the other women at the centre. Godet and the entire cast do great justice to how it is a complex process, that can be at any given time heartbreaking or inspiring.
A Place for Her is relatable, necessary, grounded, honest and compassionate. Mélisa Godet does a phenomenal job of capturing how absolutely vital it is to have resources like this available for women who have experienced or who currently are experiencing violence. It’s a moving, funny, joyful, affecting and extremely meaningful experience. One that’s brought to life beautifully by the extraordinarily talented cast who make these characters feel incredibly real. Godet’s style keeps things very much in the everyday realm to let this story speak for itself, and it speaks loudly, confidently and passionately.
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