IMDb 6.3 2025 HD

A Private Life

A Private Life

2025
Crime Drama Mystery
107 min R France
5.8 / 10
6.3 IMDB

Following the death of Paula, one of her long-time patients, psychiatrist Lilian Steiner becomes convinced that her supposed death by suicide is actually an unsolved murder.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Rebecca Zlotowski / Cécile Rodolakis / Léonard Vindry / Mikaël Gaudin / Manon Dubois-Muret
Starring
Jodie Foster / Daniel Auteuil / Virginie Efira / Mathieu Amalric / Vincent Lacoste / Luàna Bajrami / Noam Morgensztern / Sophie Guillemin

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

tense cerebral slow burn masterful performance emotionally distant intellectually satisfying morally complex predictable plot superbly acted atmospheric underwhelming suspense dialogue driven

Reviews

P
Priya Sharma
Feb 26, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

A superb, slow-burn character study disguised as a thriller. The film’s greatest strength is its unwavering focus on Lilian’s internal world; we feel the seismic shift caused by her patient’s death in every frame. The dynamic between Foster…

D
David Chen
Feb 26, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

There’s undeniable craft here, yet 'A Private Life' left me somewhat cold. The pieces are all premium: Foster is intense, the cinematography is sleek, and the premise promises intrigue. But the execution feels overly restrained, bordering on austere.…

C
Chloe Bennett
Feb 26, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A riveting, morally complex exploration of truth that lingers long after the credits. Foster’s Lilian is a magnificent creation, her pursuit less a crusade than a psychological necessity. The film excels in its quiet moments, where a shared…

M
Marcus Thorne
Feb 26, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This is a handsomely mounted, actorly affair that thrives on its performances but occasionally forgets to quicken the pulse. Foster is, predictably, excellent, wrestling with ethical shades of grey in a role that fits her like a glove.…

E
Eleanor Rigby
Feb 26, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Jodie Foster delivers a masterclass in controlled desperation in this tightly wound psychological puzzle. As Lilian Steiner, her transition from composed psychiatrist to dogged truth-seeker is utterly compelling, her every glance heavy with unspoken conviction. The French supporting…

FAQs

Australian audiences, with a strong appetite for sophisticated, character-driven thrillers, will likely be drawn to the film's high-stakes psychological drama and its world-class cast. The universal themes of seeking truth against institutional inertia and the exploration of a professional's moral compass resonate widely. It promises the kind of engrossing, talk-after-the-credits experience that performs well with local cinephiles.