A Private Life

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1:47

A Private Life

R

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1h 45m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

85 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

When renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner learns of the death of one of her patients she is deeply troubled. Convinced that it was murder, she decides to investigate....

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Critics Consensus

A Private Life mixes Hitchcockian suspense, glossy aesthetics, and a playful streak of camp into an entertaining if somewhat slight mystery that's held together by Jodie Foster's captivating presence.

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Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

12h

3/4

In America, it might be called a mess, and at times this movie sags. But overall, there’s something about it that holds interest. “A Private Life” is an odd ramble that eventually arrives somewhere.

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Odie Henderson

Boston Globe

14h

2.5/4

Foster and the rest of the cast are so good, I almost want to recommend that you go just for their performances. After all, it’s the journey, not the destination, that counts. That is, unless you’re making a murder mystery.

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Naveen Kumar

Washington Post

5d

2.5/4

“A Private Life” pokes fun at the idea that the subconscious can be concretely interpreted, and intervened upon, for a fee that adds up to a middle-class life.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

16h

2.5/5

It's not unlike if Nancy Meyers attempted to loosely remake "Caché." Despite a handful of entertaining moments, it simply lacks that certain je nai sais quoi.

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Neely Swanson

Beverly Hills Courier

4d

Although primarily a character study of the psychiatrist, in lesser hands, Steiner’s personal rehabilitation would not ring true, but Foster, the consummate actor, makes it believable.

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Andrew Parker

The Gate

4d

4/10

Zlotowski deals with a lot of loaded topics ripe for emotional explanations and payoffs, but none of them offer much in the way of primal or intellectual impact.

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Lindsay

Jan 18

Jodi Foster is a brilliant actress, surrounded by a wonderful French cast. This murder mystery is highly satisfying for adult audiences. The movie is essentially in French with English subtitles.

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Adrianne W

Jan 17

LOVE Jodi Foster and love her speaking French, however the movie itself was slow and the storyline was far from riveting. I fought to keep my eyes open.

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m

Jan 17

Kept my attention and was stimulating. Cinematography was fantastic and beautiful. The premise was interesting and smart. Acting was good. Parts of it were rather surreal but as it unfolded I thought, ‘okay, that kinda works’. Some additional development could have improved the movie but as it stood I left feeling content.

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nMolina X

@waton 1d

Every frame is screenshot-worthy! Soundtrack and visuals are a match made in heaven—vibe is off the charts.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 2d

The worldwide gross is $7,030,617.00.

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alan g

@agenser 3d

Jodie Foster can't get movies made here anymore so she went to France to have this dredged up from the Seine. Artsy but complicated plot. Too much pseudo science for me.

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Rebecca Zlotowski

Director

Jodie Foster

Lilian Steiner

Daniel Auteuil

Gabriel Haddad

Virginie Efira

Paula Cohen-Solal

Mathieu Amalric

Simon Cohen-Solal

Vincent Lacoste

Julien Haddad-Park

A Private Life: Trailer 1

1:47

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Synopsis

When renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner learns of the death of one of her patients she is deeply troubled. Convinced that it was murder, she decides to investigate....

Director: Rebecca Zlotowski
Producer: Frédéric Jouve
Screenwriter: Rebecca Zlotowski, Anne Berest, Gaëlle Macé
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Les Films Velvet, France 3 Cinéma
Rating: R (Language|Graphic Nudity|Brief Violence|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: French
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 16, 2026, Limited
Runtime: 1h 45m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)