After Much Ado About Nothing, the first part of the Children of Disaster trilogy adapted in 2017 by Albert Dupontel, comes Colors of the Fire (2022), which brings the second volume of Pierre Lemaitre's literary saga to the screen. Directed by Clovis Cornillac and penned by the author himself, the film features Léa Drucker, Benoît Poelvoorde, Olivier Gourmet, Alice Isaaz, and Fanny Ardant. It will premiere on Netflix on February 25, 2026.
Set in the interwar period, the story follows Madelaine Péricourt, the heir to a powerful financial empire, as she faces a series of betrayals that send her tumbling into decline. Without needing to be familiar with the first film’s plot, this adaptation captures the social and political landscape of Lemaitre’s saga, shifting the focus to a story of downfall and rebuilding amidst the backdrop of a threatened Europe.
Madelaine’s journey unfolds within a web of power, corruption, and manipulation, where the personal intertwines with the political. Spanning Paris and Berlin, the film offers a period drama that examines the strategies of climbing the social ladder, the superficial alliances, and the symbolic violence within a closed-off world that tightens its grip as the heiress falters. At its core: reclaiming control in a realm built to exclude her.
Colors of the Fire is adapted from Pierre Lemaitre’s novel (Albin Michel, 2018), serving as a direct sequel to Will You Ever Come Back? For this adaptation, the author himself took on the screenplay and dialogue writing—a rare move at this level of production, ensuring a consistent tone and narrative style faithful to the original work. As for the direction, Clovis Cornillac helms his fourth feature film, opting for a historical drama that emphasizes emotional intensity and power dynamics over grand spectacle.
The film vividly recreates France at the end of the 1920s, blending scenes of bourgeoisie life, institutional settings, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of inheritor capitalism. Some Berlin scenes were actually shot in Strasbourg, where certain neighborhoods mirror the pre-war architecture of Berlin. The film's artistic direction and costumes have garnered praise during awards season, receiving nominations for Best Production Design and Costumes at the 2023 César Awards.
Blending intimate drama with social commentary, the film employs a tense narrative driven by a heroine whose journey shifts from shock to action. The cast enhances the story’s depth: Léa Drucker portrays Madelaine as someone in constant flux, while Benoît Poelvoorde and Olivier Gourmet craft characters rooted in a world where influence outweighs emotion. With its historical backdrop and focus on systems of domination, Couleurs de l'incendie aligns with a cinema of reconstruction—centered on plot and environment—reminiscent of certain French period dramas that explore social decline and survival tactics.
Our Review of Couleurs de l'incendie:
Rest assured, you don't need to have seen Au Revoir là-haut to understand this new installment; Pierre Lemaitre's trilogy is quite thematic, and even though the film's protagonist already appeared in Albert Dupontel's work, there's no reference to that first film in this second part. The story follows Madelaine Péricourt, a wealthy heiress and owner of a prominent Parisian estate during the interwar period, who is stripped of all her possessions by the men closest to her. From there, she devises a plan to seek revenge.
Written and directed by Pierre Lemaitre himself, there's no doubt that this is a high-quality adaptation. Against the backdrop of rising Nazism, Clovis Cornillac delivers, for his fourth directorial effort, a well-crafted and often gripping historical drama. It's certainly his most ambitious work. However, he sometimes gets overwhelmed by this ambition. You can sense his desire to create a grand film, but he’s not Albert Dupontel, and the vibrant, flamboyant style of Au Revoir là-haut gets lost along the way. Here, the direction is more conventional, sometimes even flat. Some ideas don’t quite land, like the attempt to make the film appear as if it’s constantly lit by candles with subtle changes in lighting throughout.
Everything isn’t always entirely convincing, but the overall impression is compelling, thanks in large part to an excellent cast. Olivier Gourmet particularly stands out, and even the smaller roles—such as those played by Alice Isaaz and Fanny Ardant—are performed at a very high level.
Colors of the Fire
Movie | 2022
Theatrical Release: November 9, 2022
Available on Netflix from February 25, 2026
Drama, Historical | Duration: 2h16
Directed by Clovis Cornillac | Starring Léa Drucker, Benoît Poelvoorde, Alice Isaaz
Original title: Couleurs de l'incendie
Country: France
Adapting the second volume of Enfants du Désastre, Clovis Cornillac and Pierre Lemaitre continue to explore a France in the interwar years, torn apart by social divides, political scheming, and class violence. Driven by a story of loss and the struggle to regain control, Couleurs de l'incendie will premiere on Netflix in February 2026, providing a fresh entry point into Lemaitre’s gripping literary universe—no prior knowledge of the series required.
For a deeper dive, check out our pick of Netflix's latest releases for February, our comprehensive guide to all recent streaming releases across platforms, and today's top recommendations for what to watch today in streaming.
Average duration
2 h
15 min
