In his usual, biting fashion, 2006 Frameline Award recipient François Ozon (Swimming Pool, 8 Women, Time to Leave) peels back the polished veneer of the modern bourgeoisie to reveal a vivid and subversive exploration of triangulated love with his latest, The New Girlfriend. Opening with a touching montage of the blossoming friendship between two girls who met at age seven, Claire (Anaïs Demoustier, Elles) and Laura (Isild Le Besco, À tout de suite), the film jumps to Laura’s funeral, as Claire announces the commitment she made to look after her best friend’s widower David (Romain Duris, L’auberge espagnol) and their newborn baby.

This promise becomes much more than Claire bargained for when she walks in on David dressed as a woman. With subtle performances from both Demoustier and Duris and an airy, aware sense of humor, The New Girlfriend follows David’s transition into Virginia with the help of Claire — as new, untapped feelings begin to arise in her as well. A huge success at both the Toronto International and San Sebastian Film Festivals, Ozon’s absorbing tale of loss and desire also stars Raphaël Personnaz (The Princess of Montpensier) as Claire’s dashing husband and Aurore Clément (Paris, Texas) as Laura’s mother. This is Ozon at his very best as he exposes bourgeois facades with breathtaking beauty and exquisite timing, deftly displaying the intricate possibilities of love.