SummaryFollowing her best friend Laura's death, Claire (Anais Demoustier) reaches out to comfort Laura's bereaved husband David (Romain Duris), only to discover he has a secret. [Cohen Media Group]
Directed By:François Ozon
Written By:Ruth Rendell, François Ozon
The New Girlfriend
Metascore
Generally Favorable
74
User score
Generally Favorable
6.7
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
73% Positive
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
18% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
9% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Sep 18, 2015
100
One of its greatest pleasures is seeing how filmmaker Francois Ozon manages to find just the right note for such challenging material. He transforms what might have been a tonal nightmare in other hands into a wildly entertaining work, one that manages to be simultaneously funny, touching, slightly unnerving and undeniably sexy to behold, regardless of where your predilections may lie.
Jun 29, 2015
90
This delectable entertainment is as surprising for its continually evolving (and involving) dynamics of desire as for its slow-building emotional power.
User score
Generally Favorable
58% Positive
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
27% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
15% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
Sep 22, 2015
9
Francois Ozon’s best film in years is a delightful and funny comedy drama that plays provocatively with gender. Romain Duris is very engaging as a recently widowed man with a penchant for dressing up as a woman. Following his wife’s death his fetish is accidentally discovered by his late wife’s best friend. Reluctantly, at first, she indulges him and it’s not long before the two are stepping out on shopping trips together, with Duris adopting the name of Virginia for his female self. This simple premise is ripe with potential. Duris, it must be said, makes a rather attractive woman and the story is hugely engaging with some deliciously lip smacking moments that are laugh out loud funny. Accompanied by another perfectly fitting score in an Ozon film, it can also boast an ending that is as surprising as it is great. A real feel good treat.
Nov 22, 2021
8
I thought this was a lovely film - amusing at times, sombre and touching. The story at heart is quite a human story, one featuring fear of judgement, secrets and trust. I can't say much without giving away spoilers. I thought the performances were particularly good and I'd happily recommend this film, with the proviso that it is a little bit raunchy from time to time and so may not appeal to everyone.
Sep 15, 2015
80
Ozon is firing on all cylinders here, giving viewers a neat slice of cinematic confection that showcases what he does best: present morally complicated but very human stories that have enough panache to keep all eyes at attention for as long as he desires.
Sep 24, 2015
75
It's fun to watch The New Girlfriend the way it's fun to drink a glass of Champagne, and about as memorable.
Sep 24, 2015
63
The actors are more than fine. Demoustier is the key, making her character's shifts in astonishment and perplexity honest and plausible.
Jun 26, 2015
60
The tone wavers between psychological thriller and absurdist melodrama, and perhaps suffers for not settling on either, but it’s grounded by two terrific leads.
Jun 29, 2015
33
The concept of the film could have been played several different ways, from farce to high-drama to Hitchcock-ian thriller. Ozon decides to try it all, but in the end doesn’t pull off any.
Apr 2, 2016
7
The New Girlfriend (which I don't know why they had to come up with a title like that) is a normal activity filled with so many (un)predictable moments waiting for you.
Feb 2, 2026
6
"슬픔을 잊는 방법은 사람마다 다르니까!"클레어는 자신의 내제된 퀴어를 버지니아를 통해 접하며 로라를 이겨내고,데이빗은 자신의 내제된 퀴어를 클레어를 통해 드러내며 로라를 이겨낸다.레즈비언(혹은 바이섹슈얼)과 크로스드레서 레즈비언 맨이 서로의 정체성을 빚어주는 과정에서 불륜이 일어나지만, 그 과정이 프랑스 문화권에서는 허용되는가 싶기도 하다. (한국인의 눈으로 봐서는 불륜은 불륜이다 질레 불쌍) 저 모든 일을 겪고도 클레어는 계속 남편과 아이까지 갖고 살아가고 버지니아와도 베프로 지내니까. (근데 연인으로 지내는 것 같기도 하다. 외국에서는 동성끼리 저렇게 손잡고 잘 안다니니까) (아니면 버지니아의 아이일질도 모른다.)201217 (3.0)-1. 클레어는 7살에 만났을 때 부터 로라를 동경하고 사랑했다. 로라의 죽음이 만든 빈자리는 가족들보다도 더 심하게 클레어를 괴롭혔는데, 로라와 비슷한 차림새로 꾸며대는 로라의 남편 데이빗과의 시간에 위로를 받게된다. 데이빗은 아무래도 예전에 <엘 워드>에 나왔던 레즈비언 남자 일지도 모르겠다. (거기에 크로스드레서 까지 더해야하지만) 클레어는 로라가 첫사랑인 바이 혹은 레즈비언이겠지.2. 로라는 되게 별로 안예뻐보이는데 왜 이렇게 세계관에서 예쁜 얼굴로 나오지 ㄷㄷㄷㄷ3. 데이비드는 로라를 입히며 정체성에 확신을 가진다. 혼수상태에 빠져든 데이비드에게 클레어는 버지니아를 입히고 데이비드는 바로 깨어난다.4. 질레가 좀 안되었다. 와이프는 소꿉친구 로라를 영원히 사랑했고 그 사랑이 남아서 로라의 크로스드레서 레즈비언인 남편까지 사랑하고 ㅠㅜ
Feb 8, 2016
6
Not my favorite film by director Ozon but this is an interesting story about a **** that doesn't get all preachy and politically correct. For that reason I prefer it to The Danish Girl which seemed awfully concerned about winning awards. Ozon is comfortable with the **** subject matter and that makes for a better film. Almodovar fans should see it because he is a clear influence.
Feb 1, 2016
3
Ruth Rendell Fans Beware! Director Ozon has taken Rendell’s classic, award-winning short story – and given it a happy ending! Need I say more? For most of the film, the subtle hints of what happens at the end of Rendell’s story seem to be all there – but then Ozon veers off into his own fantasy and the film no longer makes sense. How much more brilliantly Sydney Pollack and Dustin Hoffman worked with a similar conceit in Tootsie, a hilarious film that I still enjoy watching almost 35 years later. Until it went off the rails, the Ozon film was interesting, although Romain Duris seemed to be laboring in a role that really didn’t suit him, so I couldn’t give the film a complete zero. Ozon can be brilliant or create a disaster, and to me this film is one of his failures.
Sep 26, 2015
3
Fake, fake, fake... Script, acting, directing - all fake. Ugh! A cute baby does not save the movie. Cross-gender mania is hip nowadays, but a weak movie is a weak movie. Do not waste your time and money. Camera work is very good though. That is why I am not giving it 0...
Production Company:
- Mandarin Films
- FOZ
- Mars Films
- France 2 Cinéma
- Canal+
- CinéCinéma
- France Télévisions
- Sofica Manon 4
- La Banque Postale Image 7
- Cofimage 25
- Cinémage 8
Release Date:Sep 18, 2015
Duration:1 h 48 m
Rating:R
Tagline:Ozon's farce on the French Farce of comedy.
Awards
San Sebastián International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
César Awards, France
• 2 Nominations
Ghent International Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
