Simple Passion

Written and directed by Danielle Arbid, Simple Passion (original title: Passion simple) is a 2020 French-Belgian erotic drama adapted from Annie Ernaux's 1992 autobiographical novel. It follows Hélène, a divorced university professor who, after a chance encounter in Paris, begins an intense affair with Aleksandr, a younger married Russian diplomat. Laetitia Dosch and Sergei Polunin lead the cast alongside Lou-Teymour Thion, Caroline Ducey, Grégoire Colin and Slimane Dazi. What starts as mutual passion gradually turns into a one-sided obsession and a dependency on waiting, as the inevitable end of their heady romance draws near.

Produced by Les Films Pelléas and Versus Production, the film had its world premiere on 19 September 2020 in the Industry Selects program of the Toronto International Film Festival. It opened theatrically in France on 11 August 2021 through Pyramide Distribution and in Belgium via O'Brother Distribution. Reviews were mixed: Arbid's screenplay, Polunin's performance and the soundtrack drew criticism, while Dosch's acting and the cinematography earned praise.