Langue étrangère

Langue étrangère (Fremdsprache) is a 2024 tragicomedy co-written and directed by Claire Burger. The film starring Lilith Grasmug and Josefa Heinsius is about a French teenager who visits her pen pal from Germany of the same age and falls in love with her.

The European co-production among France, Germany and Belgium was selected in the Competition at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, where it competed for the Golden Bear with its first screening on 19 February at Berlinale Palast.

Synopsis
Fanny is a 15-year-old girl from Strasbourg who feels isolated and timid. She goes to Germany for a language program and meets Lena, her pen pal, in Leipzig. Despite their initial doubts, they develop a friendship. Fanny is attracted to the politically active Lena. She changes her life story to impress her German friend, but she soon gets caught up in her own deception.

Cast

 * Lilith Grasmug as Fanny Brussieux Ait Chergui
 * Josefa Heinsius as Lena Schreber
 * Nina Hoss as Suzanne Schreber
 * Chiara Mastroianni as Antonia Brussieux
 * Jalal Altawil as Anthar Ait Chergui
 * Robert Gwisdek
 * Yuri Völsch as Lukas
 * Christa Rockstroh
 * Hermann Beyer
 * Prune De Moya	as Élève
 * Raffaela Lanci as Raffaela
 * Anna Hedderich as Justine
 * Jakob Diehl as Tobias

Production
The film is directed by Claire Burger for Les Films de Pierre. Julien Poupard and Frédéric Baillehaiche are respectively cinematographer and editor of the film. Rebeka Warrior composed the music of the film.

Produced by Marie-Ange Luciani for Les Films de Pierre, the film is being co-produced by Arte France Cinéma, Razor Film Produktion and Les Films du Fleuve. Ad Vitam have the French distribution rights while the German rights are with Port au Prince Pictures. The international sales are done by Goodfellas.

Principal photography began on 20 March 2023 in Leipzig and Strasbourg. Filming ended on 6 May 2023 with filming locations in the regions of Grand Est in France and Saxony in Germany.

Release
Langue étrangère had its world premiere on 19 February 2024, as part of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, in Competition.

It was screened at Lichter Filmfest Frankfurt International, Frankfurt on 17 April 2024.

It will be released in French theaters on 11 September 2024 by Ad Vitam.

It had its North American premiere at the Inside Out Film and Video Festival on 31 May 2024.

Reception
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has an approval rating of 80% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10.

Peter Debruge reviewing in Variety said, "Langue Étrangère is more than just another same-sex first-love story, by exploring the cultural differences between a French and German girl — as well as their classmates in both schools — Burger taps into the broader way these neighboring countries relate today, nearly 80 years after World War 2."

Matthew Joseph Jenner reviewed the film for the International Cinephile Society, writing that "brilliantly subversive and genuinely poignant in both form and content, Langue Étrangère proves to be one of the year’s most layered and poetic dramas."

Jordan Mintzer reviewing the film for The Hollywood Reporter dubbed it as "A moving cross-cultural coming-of-ager," and wrote, "The director movingly reveals how... shifting identifies put two girls on a path to find each other and, ultimately, themselves."

Nicholas Bell in Ion Cinema rated the film with two and half stars and said, "The success of the film rests almost entirely on the performances of Lilith Grasmug and Josefa Heinsius, who are reminiscent of both Virginie Ledoyen and Sairose Ronan, respectively." Concluding Bell wrote, "A score from Rebeka Warrior, which spins a theme around the budding romance, is an effective touch."

Jonathan Romney reviewing the film at Berlinale, wrote in ScreenDaily "Serious-minded political themes, simmering tension and tenderness between the two young leads, and an overall intelligence combine to just about overcome a final collapse into contrivance."

Ola Salwa reviewing the film at Berlinale for Cineuropa wrote, "Young actresses Lilith Grasmug and Josefa Heinsius are the beating heart of this coming-of-age drama by Claire Burger, revolving around a language exchange trip to Germany."

Accolades
The film was selected in Competition at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, thus it was nominated to compete for Golden Bear award.