Lilian Steiner (portrayed by Academy Award-winning actor, Jodie Foster), positions herself as an organized, in control and unwavering psychiatrist of few words while providing care for her patients.
However, when one of her longterm patients surprisingly turns up dead from an overdose of medication that she had prescribed, Steiner takes on an obsessive and compulsion-filled interest in solving the mystery of her patients believed suicide that bends the realities of what she thought were limits in science – abandoning the persona she carefully cultivated over the decades.
Opposite co-star, Daniel Auteuil (Gabriel Haddad / Steiner’s ex-husband), Foster delivers an impeccable French-language performance expertly punctuated with bouts of American profanity (I would have gone to see the film specifically for these outburst moments of cross-language humour).
Foster’s performance of Steiner also slowly evolves over the story-arc of the film from controlled rigidity into a more humanized caring version of a character who can finally see outside of herself and more clearly sees life as something to participate in instead of control. This type of nuanced character development originates from a great script but can only be expertly delivered through a collaborative understanding of the creative vision brought together by director and actor – and it’s no secret that director Rebecca Zlotowski had wanted to work with Foster for years.
Complimenting the work between director and actors was attention-grabbing cinematography from French cinematographer, George Lechaptois – who has previously collaborated on at least 6 film and/or television projects with Zlotowski and is the working experience that brings forward such trust in vision execution.
If you enjoy visually enriched psychological-thrillers with twisting and turning elements of mystery and discovery while exploring characters that move through multiple real life growth arcs of discovery and re-evaluation, I would recommend Vie Privée / Private Life (2025) for you. Even more so if you enjoy films that mimic life with unpredictable bouts of heart, humour and identity-shifting self-actualization.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Note:
Vie Privée / A Private Life (2025) celebrated its North American premiere during TIFF 2025 (September 4th – 14th, 2025). Sony Pictures Classics will release the film theatrically January 23rd, 2026.
Jodie Foster as Lilian Steiner and Virginie Efira as Paula Cohen-Solal in the film Vie Privée / A Private Life (2025).
Photo Credit: Jérôme Prébois / Sony Pictures Classics
Jodie Foster as Lilian Steiner and Daniel Auteuil as Gabriel Haddad in the film Vie Privée / A Private Life (2025).
Photo Credit: Jérôme Prébois / Sony Pictures Classics
Director Rebecca Zlotowski on set during production of Vie Privée / A Private Life (2025).
Photo Credit: Jérôme Prébois / Sony Pictures Classics
Director Rebecca Zlotowski and Jodie Foster (Lilian Steiner) being interviewed by TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey during an audience engagement opportunity following the North American premiere of Vie Privée / A Private Life (2025) at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Canada (September 4th – 14th, 2025).
Photo Credit: Spring Morris, courtesy of TIFF
Director Rebecca Zlotowski and actor Jodie Foster (Lilian Steiner) on the red carpet during the North American premiere of Vie Privée / A Private Life (2025) during the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Canada (September 4th – 14th, 2025).
Photo Credit: Bev Belanger for SERIAL SEAN
Header Image:
Jodie Foster as Lilian Steiner and Virginie Efira as Paula Cohen-Solal in the film Vie Privée / A Private Life (2025).
Photo Credit: Jérôme Prébois / Sony Pictures Classics