On November 28, "Sidonie in Japan," a romantic film about the beauty of life starring Isabelle Huppert and August Diehl, will be released. Elise Girard’s new film is a modern interpretation of the iconic "Ghost" with Patrick Swayze. "Sidonie in Japan" premiered at the Venice Festival.

Sidonie, a well-known French writer, has recently lost her husband. She embarks on a book tour in Japan, where she meets her mysterious publisher. During her journey across Japan, Sidonie gradually opens up to him, though her husband's ghost continues to haunt her. She must let go of the past to love again

"Sidonie in Japan" intertwines past and present, endings and beginnings, East and West. For Elise Girard, the film is a way to discuss hope and rebirth, showing that love can come when you least expect it. The main characters, Sidonie and Kenzo, embody France and Japan

One of the film’s central themes, highlighted through Huppert’s character, is dealing with loss. For Sidonie, healing is found in creativity, with writing being her only solace during her grief. Solitude and cultural contrasts serve as a mirror for Sidonie’s inner emotional journey, making the film psychological and introspective. The contrast between Europe and Asia symbolizes the relationship between tradition, culture, and the approach to mourning. The film includes references to genre classics like "Ghost" with Patrick Swayze and Alain Resnais' "Hiroshima, Mon Amour."

For Elise Girard, this film is a love letter to Japan—a country that is both familiar and foreign, blending traditional culture with modernity. Japan becomes the setting where opposites meet and find a common language