The effect of a traumatic near-death experience for a young woman is the heartbeat of the new Canadian-subtitled psychological drama DISTURBED HEART (AKA LORSQUE LE COEUR DÉRANGE – WHEN THE HEART DISTURBS)

A young woman, Bénédicte Tardif (Rebecca Gibian), is collecting a prescription from her local pharmacy when two robbers burst in the store demanding prescriptions themselves. In the ensuing confusion, she is shot and ends up in hospital having seemingly miraculously survived the attempt on her life with the bullet hitting her heart area.

She suffers a mix of delusional flashbacks and stress, not helped by the fact that her immediate family and friends are struggling to come to terms with her predicament, with a sister suffering from body issues and her mother with her own addictions. However, the visions of death are beginning to impact on her and making her wonder what is the reality of her current life….

Here is an intriguing psychological drama that taps into the same uncertain vibe of the likes of THE DEAD ZONE, SIDE EFFECTS and THE SIXTH SENSE, but although you might think it is going to play like the latter from the opening set-up, do not be fooled, as it is a lot more deeply-structured and thought-out as a drama and one that will certainly keep you guessing right up until the very end.

Writer/director Philippe Cormier uses the narrative to reflect on mental health, the issues that face adolescents and those coming-of-age using the internet to deal with their problems and there is a subtext that brings out a much darker and disturbing revelation as the film progresses that does harbour a bigger emotional power and hold on the audience. Refreshingly, Cormier focuses on the relationship conflicts of Bénédicte without resorting to the cheap or convenient scare.

Leading the line, Gibian is superb as Bénédicte, emoting at her full potential and providing a terrific central performance. The film as potential beyond the festival circuit.

The Los Angeles International Film Festival (LAIFF) runs from 16th – 21st November 2021. For information and tickets etc, please go to:

www.laiff.org

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Film and TV Journalist Follow: @Higgins99John Follow: @filmandtvnow