Lea (2011)

In the bustling port city of Havre, solitude and responsibility weigh heavily on the shoulders of Léa, a diligent student raised as an orphan and shouldered with caring for her increasingly fragile grandmother, a sufferer of Alzheimer's disease. By day, Léa navigates the rigorous world of academia, her focus split between her demanding studies and the relentless attentions her grandmother requires, even in the darkest hours of the night. By night, she serves patrons in a downtown nightclub, her dreams of a better life echoing in the clatter of empty glasses and the rustle of cash. When her grandmother's mental state degenerates at an alarming rate, leading to an unnerving night of panicked searching, Léa is forced to make a decision. She places her beloved grandmother in an institution offering full-time care and therapy designed to decelerate her mental decline. Here, surrounded by familiar furniture, her grandmother can find some semblance of home. In the aftermath of her decision, Léa finds the economic toll too steep to bear with her modest income as a waitress. Thus, she embraces a life in the shadows, becoming a stripper at the nightclub and earning extra through lap dances. Her existence blurs into a swirl of neon lights and the sterile calm of the university, punctuated by stolen moments in a brasserie with the owner, her newfound lover. However, the toll of her double life becomes evident as her lover struggles to cope with her erratic behavior and exhaustion. Further, Léa finds herself at odds with a vain professor who belittles her during lectures, pushing her to the brink. In a maelstrom of frustration and desperation, she lashes out at a party and leaves the city. Her life takes a turn when she receives an unexpected opportunity - an admittance to the prestigious Sciences Po, the Paris Institute of Political Studies. As Léa settles in Paris, she continues her life as a stripper, weaponizing her beauty to command control over her life. By day, she strives for a better life in the hallowed halls of academia, and by night, she dances under the guise of anonymity, the arc of her life reflecting the struggle and resilience of a young woman caught in the throes of life's harsh realities.

Lea is a drama movie featuring Anne Azoulay and directed by Bruno Rolland.

Lea is currently streaming on Mubi.