Mon Roi
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Maïwenn |
| Products | Drama film |
Mon Roi, internationally titled My King, is a 2015 French drama film helmed by director Maïwenn. The cast features Vincent Cassel, Emmanuelle Bercot, Louis Garrel, and Isild Le Besco (Maïwenn’s sister). The film was in contention for the Palme d'Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, where Bercot earned the Best Actress accolade. With a production budget of $10.6 million, it generated $8 million at the box office, indicating a modest commercial outcome.
Plot
Following a skiing accident that leaves Tony (Emmanuelle Bercot) with a knee injury, she undergoes rehabilitation at a coastal clinic. There, her recovery therapist encourages her to revisit the circumstances that led to her accident. Tony reflects on her stormy relationship with Georgio (Vincent Cassel).
While out with her brother and his partner at a club, Tony spots Georgio, a restaurateur she had encountered previously during her law school days when she worked as a waitress. After a brief exchange, Georgio invites them to his home. Captivated by his way of life, Tony quickly becomes involved with him. On their second outing, Georgio brings her to a wedding where he serves as best man. Despite friction with Agnès, Georgio’s resentful ex-girlfriend, Tony and Georgio start dating. He soon proposes starting a family; Tony becomes pregnant and they marry.
Agnès attempts suicide upon learning of the pregnancy, which shifts Georgio’s focus toward her care, causing tension in his marriage. Tony leaves him overnight; Georgio insists on continuing support for Agnès and suggests living apart to preserve their relationship, renting an apartment nearby. During this period, Tony discovers that due to Georgio’s significant debts, many belongings—including hers—are seized but later recovered. They briefly reunite for the birth of their son, Sinbad.
Their marriage collapses again when Georgio rekindles contact with Agnès and introduces her to Sinbad. He also claims work obligations prevent him from assisting Tony with childcare. Tony catches him in bed with another woman; although he denies cheating, he admits to struggles with drug addiction. Despite her brother’s advice to leave, Tony remains hopeful about saving their marriage.
Battling depression, Tony increases her medication dosage until she attempts suicide. Following this event, she chooses to divorce Georgio, who resists and threatens custody disputes citing her mental health history. Nevertheless, they conclude an amicable separation but maintain occasional physical intimacy. In therapy sessions, Georgio apologizes for his conduct; they even take a family vacation with Sinbad.
Tony takes on a prominent murder defense case that strains their relationship as Georgio reacts with jealousy rather than support. One day at her workplace, he voices fear of losing her and mentions their approaching ten-year anniversary before threatening physical harm. Tony retorts that she lost him long ago and that his emotional abuse was more damaging than any physical violence.
After completing rehab, Tony returns to everyday life and attends a parent–teacher meeting where Georgio makes a brief appearance. Although feelings of care and attraction persist between them, they avoid conflict or subtle hostility. Georgio leaves early without saying goodbye directly; Tony smiles wistfully before returning to the meeting.
Production
Maïwenn dedicated several years to crafting the screenplay, drawing loose inspiration from her personal connection with real estate entrepreneur Jean-Yves Le Fur. The character Agnès was modeled after the former fiancé of Le Fur, the model Karen Mulder. The role of Tony was specifically written by Maïwenn with Emmanuelle Bercot in mind. Although Vincent Cassel was her preferred actor for the part of Georgio, his initial doubts about the script almost led him to refuse the role.
Critical reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has garnered a 72% approval rating based on 74 critiques, averaging a score of 6.7/10, described as: "My King employs a medical emergency to offer a reflective exploration of love and dependency." Meanwhile, on Metacritic, it received a score of 68 out of 100 from 18 reviews, reflecting "generally favorable reviews."
Ignatiy Vishnevetsky from The A.V. Club observed that although certain segments are compelling, the movie feels excessively long and intense, implying that the director excels more in guiding performances than in trimming necessary content.
Accolades
| Award / Festival | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | Palme d'Or | Maïwenn | Template:Nom |
| Best Actress | Emmanuelle Bercot (tied with Rooney Mara for Carol) | Template:Won | |
| César Awards | Best Film | Maïwenn (director), Alain Attal (producer) | Template:Nom |
| Best Director | Maïwenn | Template:Nom | |
| Best Actor | Vincent Cassel | Template:Nom | |
| Best Actress | Emmanuelle Bercot | Template:Nom | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Louis Garrel | Template:Nom | |
| Best Editing | Simon Jacquet | Template:Nom | |
| Best Sound | Nicolas Provost, Agnès Ravez and Emmanuel Croset | Template:Nom | |
| Best Original Music | Stephen Warbeck | Template:Nom | |
| Lumière Awards | Best Director | Maïwenn | Template:Nom |
| Best Actress | Emmanuelle Bercot | Template:Nom | |
| Best Cinematography | Claire Mathon | Template:Nom |