Life’s a Bitch 2023

The film follows three interwoven stories about humans and their complicated relationships with dogs. In the first thread, Tom [Jean-Jacques Rausin] is a young man who agrees to look after his late neighbor’s chihuahua while pursuing the concierge’s daughter, Cécile [Mara Taquin]. The dog seems harmless at first, but it soon reveals a more menacing side. Whispers that it may have driven its former owner to suicide gradually gain plausibility as Tom struggles to keep control of the fragile situation, weighing duty, fear, and the unpredictable temper of an animal he’s learning to manage.

In the second thread, Greta [Aurora Marion]—a successful actress and ambassador for a luxury perfume brand—suddenly loses both her dog and her assistant in a truck-related accident. While she processes the loss, she meets Charlotte [Ninon Borsei] in a laundromat and unexpectedly invites Charlotte to step into her life, offering the possibility of becoming her assistant—or perhaps a stand-in for the dog she has just lost. This encounter probes themes of power, companionship, and the uneasy ease with which someone can be asked to fill a void left by tragedy.

The third thread centers on Franck [Arieh Worthalter] and Lola [Louise Manteau], who fall in love at first sight and quickly discover they share many common ground. Yet Lola’s intense dislike of dogs challenges the budding romance, since Franck’s deep affection for his pet, Perdita, is a persistent presence in his life. Franck faces a difficult choice between nurturing his new relationship and honoring the bond with his beloved dog, a decision that tests sincerity, jealousy, and what it means to care for another living being.