NQV Media’s series ‘Upon Her Lips’ continues with the release of new collection ‘French Kiss’. Rather than shining a spotlight on a variety of filmmakers from around the globe, this release focuses solely on French talent. Four films – from directors Camille Roux, Haïga Jappain, Siham Bel and Héléna Klotz – tell contrasting stories about very different women and their experiences with being attracted to the same sex.
‘One Another’ by Camille Roux finds Elma (played by director Roux) transfixed by a woman she sees leaving a strip club. What follows is a story that borders on stalking and obsession, as Elma has intentions beyond just making a simple connection. Set against the backdrop of Paris’ red-light district of Pigalle, this short takes place at night, which gives it a darker edge. Whether or not Elma is crossing boundaries is up for discussion, but the short explores what it's like to feel immediate infatuation with someone you don’t know.
Haïga Jappain’s ‘Red Panda Temptation’ is very different and probably the strongest short here. 35-year-old Anna (Sarah Stern) is in a committed relationship with Marie (Alexandra Roth) and when she realises that she’s in the early stages of menopause, she goes into overdrive in her bid to have a baby. While Anna becomes laser-focused, she completely neglects what Marie wants, risking their relationship. The short asks some big questions about communication in a long-term committed relationship, and while you can sympathise with Anna, you can’t help but feel sorry for Marie.
‘Breaking Through’ from filmmaker Siham Bel is a familiar coming-of-age story about Safia (Camille Moutawakil), who decides to come out to her family. When the decision doesn’t receive the reaction she was hoping for, Safia wanders around the island of Corsica – where her family lives – looking for a way to process what’s happened. This short will likely resonate with a lot of viewers who have had to hide their sexuality, worried about how their family might react. Safia’s story isn’t an unusual one, and it’s one that has been depicted in queer film for years.
The final short on the collection is ‘Love Sea’ from Héléna Klotz, which focuses on 17-year-old Jeanne (Mathilde Dupont-Corbrand) who goes to the seaside with her sister. Once there, she becomes besotted with a beautiful female surfer. The story really explores what it feels like to be attracted to a stranger purely due to their appearance. Jeanne is eager to get to know the woman and the story is a slow-building one that takes time to allow Jeanne to understand and act on her feelings.
‘Upon Her Lips: French Kiss’ isn’t one of the more immediate collections from NQV Media. All of the films are worth a watch but they didn’t have the impact for me that some of the other releases have had. That being said, the target audience likely isn’t me so any women who can relate to these stories will likely get much more out of them. These films aren’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, they simply just didn’t resonate with me.
Cast: Tehani Amant, Camille Roux, Sarah Stern, Alexandra Roth, Allison Chassagne, Camille Moutawakil, Mathilde Dupont-Corbrand, Louison Bejaoui Directors: Camille Roux, Haïga Jappain, Siham Bel, Héléna Klotz Certificate: Duration: 95 mins Released by: NQV Media Release date: 23rd June 2025 Buy ‘Upon Her Lips: French Kiss’ now
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