Set in the beautiful countryside of France, Ma Belle, My Beauty brings a familiar flavor of romance that centers on a musician couple, Bertie (Idella Johnson) and Fred (Lucien Guignard), who are adjusting to their newly married life. For Fred, son of French and Spanish parents, the transition to the countryside has been easy but New Orleans native Bertie suffers from depression and it is affecting her singing. To help Bertie, Fred arranges a surprise visit for her by calling in Lane (Hannah Pepper-Cunningham), who vanished from their three-way relationship two years ago.
In her feature debut, writer-director Marion Hill takes us on a luscious and complex journey of a polyamorous relationship that has left some wounds weaved in with the baggage of desire, heartache, and life ambitions. Bertie’s arrival in the countryside wasn’t what she expected and she becomes alienated in this small, white, European town. This leads her to feel disillusioned from her music, while also grieving the loss of her mother. Lane’s arrival only puts salt in the wound as Hill steadily takes our attention towards the reignition of desire and passion between past lovers.
From strolls down the farmer’s market while eating cheese to wine-drenched lunches and candlelit dinners, Ma Belle, My Beauty starts to reveal chunks of these three people and their shared past. While Fred’s contribution is limited to being a supportive husband, he lets Lane take the initiative to push the buttons of the shared emotional pain the trio is carrying around after all this time. Knowing a person both emotionally and intimately gives you an all-access door to their mood boards and in Bertie’s case, Lane knows exactly which buttons to push. When her attempt to recreate their carefree and joyous past fails, Lane shifts her strategy. She meets Noa (Sivan Noam Shimon), a young artist and former soldier, who takes a fancy to Lane at a party, which quickly reignites dormant jealousies.
This is where the movie finally picks up its pace by having fun with its characters. The intercut scene where Lane and Noa are going at each other passionately in one room while Bertie and Fred are getting ready for bed with a sleeping pill provides a look into their boring married life. The tension soon boils up between Lane and Bertie as they finally lock horns by throwing nasty darts at each other, leading them to share a moment of intimacy that they both craved equally. What Hill does exceptionally well then is letting her characters break the wall to reveal their truth, and shows why loving another person requires sacrifice, which none of the characters are ready to do.
The magic of Ma Belle, My Beauty lies within its genuine moments of awkwardness, intimacy, and the unspoken feelings the characters carry in them. Hill takes on the complexities and work required of a polyamorous relationship by confronting her characters who are trying to navigate what makes sense to them — or at least what used to. The performances given by the cast are honest, especially Johnson whose character, a queer Black woman, is at a complicated crossroads in her life as she loses her footing both personally and professionally. Johnson elevates her character with her expressive performance and the exceptional chemistry she shares with Pepper-Cunningham, who does most of the heavy lifting since their character Lane is the center of everyone’s attention.
All in all, Ma Belle, My Beauty is a breezy ride that tackles polyamorous love and its complexity, drama, and eroticism while giving you a delightful experience of the French countryside, illuminating music, and the euphoric pleasures of wine.
