La Petite Lili

Ludivine Sagnier stars as Lili, the love and muse of an idealistic young filmmaker in this modern adaptation of Chekov's classic play The Seagull.

The story revolves around Mado, a movie star past her prime who owns an elegant chateau in the serene French countryside. Mado's lover Brice is a successful director who continues to cast Mado in his films. Her son Julien, an aspiring filmmaker, despises his "sell-out" mother, but at the same time yearns for her approval. Lili, Julien's girlfriend (and lead actress), is intent on escaping the lowly life of a poor country girl and dreams of stardom.

From its opening scene - one of the steamiest sexual encounters in film - this provocative reinvention of Chekov is "a first-rate piece of cinema, acutely perceptive, universally empathic and human." (Chicago Tribune)