Watch Special Treatment

Special Treatment is a French-language movie produced in 2010 starring Isabelle Huppert, Bouli Lanners, and Sabila Moussadek. The film tells the story of two completely different but similarly troubled individuals who meet by chance and find solace in each other's company. The film begins with Isabelle Huppert's character, Alice Bergerac, who is a middle-aged, well-educated prostitute living in Paris. Her clients are mostly wealthy men who require her services for a variety of emotional reasons. Alice has a strict routine in her life, and though her clients frequently express their love for her, she knows that it's just a job to them. Alice is also struggling with some personal issues as she is diagnosed with anemia and is called to regular blood transfusions.

On the other hand, we have Bouli Lanners' character, Xavier Demestre, a slightly eccentric therapist who lives in a small town outside Paris. Xavier is disillusioned with his job as a psychotherapist, and his relationship with his wife is going through a rough patch. Despite his qualifications, he feels like he's helping his clients less and less; he's lost his spark.

One day, in a strange turn of events, Alice and Xavier cross paths when Alice is referred to him by her psychiatrist. From this point on, a unique and surprising relationship begins to develop between them, and we get to see both of their worlds collide. Their interactions are somewhat absurd at the beginning, but as Xavier becomes more involved in Alice's life, he also starts questioning his own profession and his role in society. Although Alice and Xavier appear to be polar opposites, they share an undeniable bond, which tethers them to each other.

Alice is burdened with the idea of being a prostitute, and Xavier is burdened with the idea of making sense of life as a therapist. They both feel trapped in their professions, and what they need is to be understood without any sort of judgment, which they find in each other. As the story progresses, we see their characters develop through their interactions, and we notice how they affect each other's lives. They begin to take risks and confront new realities outside of their familiar social circles.

The movie is exceptionally directed, and its humour and emotional depth create a meaningful cinematic experience. The cinematography is clean and draws from a warm and muted colour scheme, which further boosts the development of the relationship between Alice and Xavier. The soundtrack composed by Frederic Verrier reflects the characters' emotional state.

In conclusion, Special Treatment is a thought-provoking and intense film about two fragile but complex people who come together, seeking solace and understanding. Its message that people, regardless of their background or profession, need empathy and respect, is the essence of the film. It's an emotionally charged, convincing and beautifully rendered drama that will stay with the viewer long after watching it.

Special Treatment is a 2011 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6 and a MetaScore of 49.