France, 1870. Rosalie is a young woman with a secret… She was born with a face and bodycovered in hair. A genuine bearded lady. She’s kept her secret safe all her life, until Abel, an indebted bar owner, marries her for her dowry. Now, she no longer wishes to hide.

A story of hope and radical self-acceptance, Rosalie is a beautiful and bold romance from director Stéphanie Di Giusto, starring Nadia Tereszkiewicz and Benoît Magimel.

The Garden Cinema View:

Wafting in on the aromatic slipstream of The Taste of Things, Benoît Magimel is back in costume and ready to satisfy any lingering French period drama urges one might be experiencing. Although draped across a reasonably formulaic structure, Rosalie is elevated by its central hirsute spectacle. Rosalie’s bearded appearance is fascinating to watch – a voyeuristic reflection of the curiosity and prejudice displayed onscreen. The lead performances carry this through impressively, and the locations and photography of rural Brittany are a pleasure to spend time in.

Cast:
Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Benoît Magimel