Les Prodigieuses, directed by Frédéric and Valentin Potier (father and son), hits the screens with a story inspired by the story of sisters Audrey and Diane Pleynet. Carried by a lovely cast including Camille Razat, Mélanie Robert, Isabelle Carré and Franck Dubosc, this drama explores struggle and resilience in the face of adversity.
The Prodigious tells the moving story of Claire and Jeanne, two twin sisters with exceptional musical talents. Virtuoso pianists, they embody the dream of their father, played by Franck Dubosc, who sacrificed everything to offer them a brilliant career. Eligible for a prestigious music university under the direction of the formidable professor Klaus Lenhardt, played by August Wittgenstein, they are promised a glorious future. But, at the peak of their ascent, their destiny changes. The two young girls are struck by a rare orphan disease which gradually affects the motor skills of their hands, seriously compromising their ability to play the piano. This unexpected handicap endangers years of effort and ambition, as well as the hopes of their father, who placed all his expectations on them.
A fight for resilience
Refusing to give up on their dream, Lucie and Marie launch into a fierce fight against their own bodies. They fight not only against illness, but also against society’s expectations, professional and sentimental rivalries and pressure from those around them. They must reinvent themselves, find new ways to express their talent and continue to experience music despite the progressive loss of their physical abilities. The film addresses with great sensitivity the notion of resilience, showing to what extent art, and in particular music, can become an outlet in the face of suffering. The twins, played by Camille Razat and Mélanie Robert, deliver particularly moving performances, expressing with finesse the complexity of the emotions linked to this inner struggle: fear, despair, but also hope and the determination not to let the disease define them.
Franck Dubosc in an unexpected dramatic role
In a register far from his usual comedies, Franck Dubosc here plays a devoted father, ready to do anything to see his daughters succeed. His character, quite complex and unexpectedly deep, oscillates between ambition, paternal love and dismay in the face of the fragility of their situation. His touching performance shows a new side of his acting, combining strength and vulnerability. It perfectly illustrates the dilemma of a parent who sees his dreams and sacrifices collide with harsh reality.
The rigor of Professor Lenhardt
Another striking element of the film is the influence of Klaus Lenhardt, the ruthless music teacher. It represents both the absolute requirement and the coldness of an academic universe where only excellence counts. Her character embodies the relentless pressure the twins are under, but also incorporates a ‘romantic’ storyline, adding another level of dramatic tension to the narrative.
An ode to perseverance and reinvention
Crossing its entire scenario, resilience and, with it, the ability to reinvent oneself when all seems lost are the strong themes of the Prodigious. One of the ways to achieve this will be through the unique piano playing technique (developed by the Pleynet sisters), a sort of forearm dance, a touch of the keys combined with exceptional synchronicity, perfectly transcribed in the film.
Frédéric and Valentin Potier have created a moving and inspiring feature film, where the beauty of music and the quest for perfection are confronted with human fragility.
The story of these pianist twins will resonate deeply with anyone who has had to face more or less insurmountable obstacles in their lives. It’s a film that shows that even in the darkest of times, art and passion can provide an escape and a new reason to fight.
The Prodigiouswith its talented casting and its delicate staging, promises to be a notable film at the end of the year, both by the strength of its story and by the depth of the themes it addresses. A must-see for those who love stories of human resilience and personal accomplishment in the face of adversity.
