Directed by Alice Winocour and inspired by the terrorist attacks of November 2015, Paris Memories follows Mia (Virginie Efir) as she struggles to resolve her fractured memories in the aftermath of a violent attack. She repeatedly returns to the bistro where the attack happened, bonding with fellow survivors. As Mia works through her hazy recollections, she starts to rebuild her life and make sense of what really happened.
Inspired by the experiences of the director’s brother, who was present at the Bataclan attack, Paris Memories investigates the notion of memory and identity in the aftermath of violence. Approached from the perspective of the survivors, the film is an empowering testament to the resilience of humanity and how both complicated and simple, the healing process can be.
Festivals
Glasgow Film Festival 2023
Toronto International Film Festival 2022
Reviews
“Illuminated by a masterful performance by French actress Virginie Efira, Revoir Paris makes the unimaginable experience of surviving a violent attack beautifully real and painfully universal.”
– Jude Dry, indieWire
“It’s a modest film with a heart very much on its torn sleeve, given force and ballast by another fine dramatic turn from the hard-working Virginie Efira”
– Guy Lodge, Variety
‘’Winocour’s film is a poignant mediation on personal trauma and the importance of memory. But the film also serves as a tribute to Paris – to remembering that it is possible to love a place despite experiencing something terrible there.’’
– Hannah Strong, Little White Lies
