When the Sea Rises

Plot

Irène is an actress who performs her one-person show all over Northern France. One day she is heading for a new town when her car breaks down. On the countryside she is picked up by a travelling stranger who rides a scooter. He introduces himself as Dries and gives her a lift. She rewards him with a ticket for her show. When he arrives there she involves him in her performance. The next evening he returns and feels he must protect her against perturbators in the audience. She doesn't appreciate the way he tries to take care of this matter. They have a considerable dispute which eventually ends in a reconciliation. This marks the beginning of a love affair.

Critical reception

The film has received critical acclaim. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 90% of 20 critics gave the film a positive review, for an average rating of 6.5/10. Metacritic gave the film a score of 62 out of 100, based on 8 critics.

Background

The film title is an homage to the French folk singer Raoul de Godewaersvelde whose song "Quand la mer monte" is a re-occurring theme throughout the film.

Awards