La Ligne droite
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Régis Wargnier (director and co-writer) |
| Products | Drama film |
La Ligne droite () is a French drama released in 2011, co-written and directed by Régis Wargnier, focusing on the theme of running for the visually impaired. The film features performances by Rachida Brakni, Cyril Descours, Clémentine Célarié, and Seydina Baldé. It was distributed in a limited capacity starting on 9 March 2011.
Cast
- Rachida Brakni portraying Leïla
- Cyril Descours as Yannick
- Clémentine Célarié in the role of Marie-Claude
- Seydina Baldé playing Franck
- Thierry Godard as Jacques
- Grégory Gadebois cast as Vincent
- Trésor Makunda as Martial
- Aladji Ba appearing as Aladji
- Romain Goupil in the role of a teacher
Synopsis
Leïla, having served a five-year prison sentence, encounters Yannick, a young athlete who recently lost his sight due to a car accident. Yannick, formerly a 400-meter relay competitor, now participates in races while connected to a guide runner. Concealing her history as a former elite athlete, Leïla returns to a sports facility where Yannick invites her to become his guide. Their joint training and preparation for competitions serve as a means for both individuals to reconstruct their lives.
An injury sustained by Brakni during production necessitated altering the film’s original conclusion. Instead of Leïla guiding Yannick during the championship race, Franck assumes this role while Leïla observes from the audience. According to Descours, Yannick’s final dedication to Leïla symbolized not only the character’s feelings but also the cast and crew's support for Brakni.
Filming
The cast underwent training alongside members of the French national athletics team and performed scenes in front of an audience of 50,000 at the Meeting Areva. A significant sequence was shot at the ship graveyard located in Landévennec, within Finistère.
Soundtrack
Composed and conducted by Patrick Doyle, the score for La Ligne droite adopts a minimalist approach reminiscent of Philip Glass. Due to budgetary limitations, Doyle employed only ten musicians from the London Symphony Orchestra to perform string instruments, harp, and piano parts, recording them closely together to produce a richer sound.
The soundtrack received critical acclaim, including a five-star evaluation from Christian Clemmensen of Filmtracks.com, who regarded it as one of Doyle’s most distinguished works. Released on 8 March 2011 by Varèse Sarabande, the album contains twenty-two tracks with a total duration of forty minutes.
Reception
Variety offered a favorable critique of the film, commending its screenplay, direction, and lead actors’ performances. Brakni’s athletic experience contributed authenticity to her character portrayal, while Descours delivered an intense physical performance capturing his role’s emotional depth. The inclusion of real blind runners and guides in supporting parts further enhanced the film’s realism.