Emma Peeters (2018)

Directed by: Nicole Palo | 87 minutes | comedy | Actors: Monia Chokri, Fabrice Adde, Stéphanie Crayencour, Andréa Ferréol, Anne Sylvain, Jean-Henri Compère, Jean-Noël Delfanne

Whatever you look at it, ‘Emma Peeters’ by the Belgian/American director Nicole Palo is an ode to life. Main character Emma Peeters (Monia Chokri) is a wannabe actress with a boring job (TV saleswoman at a French equivalent of the MediaMarkt, Fandy). To make matters worse: She will soon be 35 years old and then of course her “expiry date” in terms of acting will be over. Emma, ​​along with her frivolous friend Lulu, has acting lessons, but she doesn’t excel there either. According to the teacher, she has no ‘feeling’.

When her psychiatrist notices during a session with singing bowls that there is absolutely no ‘vibration’ coming from her body, Emma has had enough. She decides to commit suicide in a week, exactly on the day she turns 35. How hard can that be? Just watch a video on YouTube about the different common methods (hilarious background noise) and Emma is ready. However? No, because she has counted outside the innkeeper, in this case Alex Bodart (Fabrice Adde) from the funeral shop she hires. After writing her to do list (including saying goodbye to her parents, having sex one last time, a new owner for her cat) she seems happier than ever, but committing suicide is not so easy. Certainly not if the man who can actually start earning from you (casket, grave right, etc.), falls in love with you and seems to hold things up…

‘Emma Peeters’ is an original romantic comedy, because despite the loaded subject we watch a light-hearted film with some nice finds (the complaining women that Alex offers at funerals). Her hairdresser neighbors Bob & Serge are also happy. Leading actress Monia Chokri plays Emma with an amusing sort of indifference (“Ah, a cactus. Of course you thought: it suits Emma well, dull and barren.”).

Also in the supporting roles there is really no one who stands out, in short: ‘Emma Peeters’ can be classified under the heading ‘pleasant surprise’. It’s not easy to commit suicide. Especially not if you notice in the last week that the little things do matter. Staying alive, no matter how difficult it is sometimes and no matter how bad it can be, turns out to be a better option. Around the time that Emma also becomes aware of this, we get to know her better and better. From stoic to angry and from dancing super happy to regretting some action items on her list. ‘Emma Peeters’ is a small, charming film from a director to keep an eye on.