A Private Life
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Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
The renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner mounts a private investigation into the death of one of her patients, whom she is convinced has been murdered.
Cast
- Jodie Foster
- Daniel Auteuil
- Virginie Efira
- Mathieu Amalric
- Vincent Lacoste
- Luàna Bajrami
- Noam Morgensztern
- Sophie Guillemin
- Frederick Wiseman
- Aurore Clément
Moviegoers are saying
A Private Life presents Jodie Foster speaking French as a psychiatrist unraveling after a patient's death, but audiences find this promising psychological thriller derailed by messy direction and tonal confusion. While Foster's magnetic performance anchors the film, reviewers consistently note the script's inability to decide whether it's a serious drama or lighter fare, resulting in an unfocused experience that wastes its intriguing premise.
Top Mentions
Summary generated from the text of Atom User reviews
Letterboxd User Reviews
3.0
38.8K
9.6K
5.2K
- May 22, 2025
could have been gayer
teobynMay 22, 2025so they decided to abandon the idea that she might be lesbian?…..disappointing 😒
salma!!Nov 27, 2025You know it's a fiction when Jodie Foster plays a straight woman
Adam Bensoltane - Sep 28, 2025
a wonderful premise: Jodie Foster as cold-hearted psychoanalyst who lives every therapist's nightmare: patients withdraw their love from her, patients questioning her proficiency, patients killing themselves. she has to find out of this subconscious jungle. from there on…
shookoneSep 9, 2025[steals your Amazon package to solve a murder]
Chris FeilMay 21, 2025Moi aussi dans une autre vie Jodie Foster c’est ma meuf
An_bst - Nov 28, 2025
Jodie Foster can have a little "Tár" as a treat.
joereidMay 21, 2025A PRIVATE LIFE has a rather messy script and bland direction but is saved by a truly magnetic Jodie Foster, speaking the French language and gradually losing her mind as a psychiatrist trying to uncover the mystery behind a patient’s death. It wants to be a…
Matt NegliaNov 29, 2025“Psychiatre Killer qu’est-ce que c’est ?” 🎵
Frame_
Queue Community Reviews
76%
Community 178
Top Reviews
- becca is "meh" onA Private Life
6/10 Not the typical film i’d go out my way to watch but it wasn’t bad. The plot was confusing at times but the acting was superb
Gregory Mitchell likedA Private LifeThe film description is more interesting than the actual film, but it’s always a treat to watch a Foster performance
Hmamyf is "meh" onA Private LifeWas very intriguing up until the climax, just felt very very flat
- Pemiilia lovedA Private Life
Aivan loistava ranskalaisille tyyliuskollinen mysteeri,
Tilda Stensland likedA Private LifeDaniel Auteuil get your hands off my lesbian
Enguerran likedA Private LifeRich scenario, good acting, just a bit messy
- Advid movie watcher likedA Private Life
I love murder mysterys
Martin Braonain watched_neutraldA Private Life2/5
Atom Users Reviews
Reviews
- GAGrace AMPMichael PhungAAAJ A
- LWL. Ray Williams
Metacritic
Jan 22, 2026
You’ll have a great time following along in French director and co-writer Rebecca Zlotowski’s latest, which had its world premiere last May at the Cannes film festival. Sit back and enjoy or, as they like to say in Cannes: “Bonne séance!”
Chris Knight
Original-Cin
Jan 15, 2026
There’s something oddly appealing about the fact that Rebecca Zlotowski’s understated thriller, A Private Life, stubbornly refuses easy definition – other than as a modest romp that allows Jodie Foster to perform in another language. And if you’ll watch Foster acting in anything, you’re gonna love watching her do it in French.
Elizabeth Weitzman
Time Out
Dec 9, 2025
The film’s brisk pace does partly compensate for the essential banality of the central investigation.
David Robb
Slant Magazine
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Private Life (2026) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is A Private Life (2026)?
The movie is 1hr 43min long.
What's A Private Life (2026) about?
The renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner mounts a private investigation into the death of one of her patients, whom she is convinced has been murdered.
Who's the cast of A Private Life (2026)?
- Jodie Foster as Lilian Steiner
- Daniel Auteuil as Gabriel Haddad
- Virginie Efira as Paula Cohen-Solal
- Mathieu Amalric as Simon Cohen-Solal
- Vincent Lacoste as Julien Haddad-Park
- Luàna Bajrami as Valérie Cohen-Solal
- Noam Morgensztern as Pierre Hallan, le patient fumeur
- Sophie Guillemin as Jessica Grangé, l'hypnotiseuse
- Frederick Wiseman as Dr. Goldstein
- Aurore Clément as Perle Friedman
Who's the director behind A Private Life (2026)?
Rebecca Zlotowski directed A Private Life (2026).
Who produced A Private Life (2026)?
Frédéric Jouve produced A Private Life (2026).
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