Directed by Maël Piriou and starring Julia Piaton, Grégory Gadebois, and Quentin Dolmaire, Une pointe d'amour is a comedy-drama that subverts the conventions of the intimate road movie. Released in French cinemas on April 30, 2025, this debut feature film recounts a journey to Spain that becomes a reflection on desire, friendship, and the end of life. The film will enjoy renewed exposure with a broadcast on Canal+ on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 9:10 p.m.
At the heart of the story is Mélanie, a lawyer suffering from an incurable disease, who decides it's time to "really enjoy" life. She takes her lifelong friend Benjamin on a trip to Spain, with their sights set on a brothel where they can finally explore their sensuality. Their journey takes place in a worn-out van driven by Lucas, a gruff driver who has just been released from prison. Between impromptu stops, late-night confessions, and mishaps along the way, the trip turns into a suspended interlude where the unspoken truths of an old friendship are replayed.
Unlike Mélanie, who seems determined to see her project through to the end, Benjamin takes numerous detours and slowdowns. As the road unfolds, the itinerary becomes the backdrop for a deeper exploration of the bond that unites these characters, all marked by disability or some form of marginalization. Without revealing the final stages of this journey, the film creates tension between the urgency to live and the fear of seeing this interlude come to an end, questioning the boundary between friendship and love.
Maël Piriou's first feature film, Une pointe d'amour, is part of an atypical career path. After working in law, journalism, and legal publishing, the filmmaker entered the world of cinema through making-ofs, before training at the Fémis screenwriting workshop. The project was born out of an "artistic love at first sight" with producer Vincent Roget (Same Player), who entrusted him with the adaptation of Geoffrey Enthoven's Flemish film Hasta la Vista. Piriou kept the starting point of the trip to Spain, but radically changed the structure, moving from three young men to a male-female duo and a more mature trio of friends.
The film is based on extensive preparation around the portrayal of disability. Julia Piaton and Quentin Dolmaire worked with a paraplegic coach, occupational therapists, and specialists to adjust gestures, postures, and physical limitations. The character of Benjamin, who is in a wheelchair following an accident, is inspired by Bordeaux-based influencer Martin Petit, whose energy and visibility fueled the story. Filming took place in Paris and Spain, ending in the Bardenas Reales region, an arid setting reminiscent of both Westerns and the wide open spaces of cinema.
In terms of direction, Maël Piriou takes a no-frills approach, guided by a precept of Sidney Lumet: place the camera where you can best see the actors. The reference to Jean-Pierre Bacri and Agnès Jaoui can be seen in the attention paid to the supporting roles, all of which have specific stakes. The character of Lucas was written specifically for Grégory Gadebois, in a more talkative and expansive register than his usual roles.
With its tone blending drama and comedy, Une pointe d'amour follows in the footsteps of certain human and touching road movies, such as The Fundamentals of Caring and Little Miss Sunshine. The film tackles profound themes such as friendship, illness, and desire, while maintaining a light dynamic, fueled by dialogues and situations that are both tender and sometimes raw. The treatment of disability is not intended to be demonstrative: the characters are shown above all as desiring beings, torn by their contradictions.
This approach, combined with the chemistry of the central trio, places the film in a middle ground between romantic comedy, travelogue, and intimate drama. Viewers who appreciate introspective stories should find a blend of modesty, humor, and emotion, while fans of more "classic" comedies may be confused by this more nuanced tone. Critical and public reviews, which are generally positive, highlight the accuracy of the acting and the balance between lightheartedness and seriousness.
A Touch of Love
Film | 2025
Theatrical release: April 30, 2025
On Canal+ on: December 9, 2025 at 9:10 p.m.
Comedy drama, Road movie | Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes
By Maël Piriou | Starring Julia Piaton, Grégory Gadebois, Quentin Dolmaire
Nationality: France
Combining humor, emotion, and a road trip of discovery, Une pointe d'amour offers a contemporary take on travel stories, where the road becomes the setting for a redefinition of relationships and desires. The film fits into the recent landscape of French comedy-drama, with a keen eye for bodies, landscapes, and the details of everyday life, carried by a trio of actors whose chemistry is one of the main driving forces behind the story.
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