Directed by Thomas Kruithof and co-written with Jean-Baptiste Delafon, Les Braises stars Virginie Efira, Arieh Worthalter, and Mama Prassinos. This social dramawill be released in France on November 5, 2025, distributed by Le Pacte. The film explores the impact of activism on personal and family life.
Karine and Jimmy, a close-knit couple after twenty years of living together, lead a peaceful life with their two children. She works in a factory, he runs a small transport company. When the Yellow Vests movement emerges, Karine finds herself swept up in the collective anger and hope for change. Little by little, her commitment challenges the balance of her relationship and their daily life.
Through this story, Thomas Kruithof depicts the tension between the personal and the collective, showing how politics can disrupt an ordinary life. The couple's evolution is confronted with the rise of protest and its social and personal consequences.
The project was born out of Thomas Kruithof and Jean-Baptiste Delafon's desire to address the political engagement of ordinary citizens. After Les Promesses, which focused on elected officials, they drew inspiration from the Yellow Vests movement, which has yet to be widely explored in cinema. The script is based on meetings with activists in Brittany, Haute-Loire, Limoges, and Angoulême. Filming took place in real-life settings, notably in factories, and involved around 30 participants from the movement.
The director chose a scope format to film both crowds and intimate spaces. This visual choice highlights the distances and tensions within the couple. The factory and roundabout scenes reflect a documentary approach to the movement. The film relies on immersive staging, favoring spontaneity and improvisation from the actors.
The relationship between Virginie Efira and Arieh Worthalter was a central focus of the casting. Their interactions aim to convey the strength and fragility of a couple facing a political and emotional crisis. The filming, marked by the participation of real activists, gave rise to a collective energy that runs throughout the film.
Les Braises
Film | 2025
In theaters November 5, 2025
Drama | Running time: 1 hour 42 minutes
By Thomas Kruithof | Starring Virginie Efira, Arieh Worthalter, Mama Prassinos
Nationality: France
A film rooted in reality, Les Braises offers a human interpretation of contemporary activism through the story of a couple undergoing change.
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