A Private Life

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1:47

A Private Life

R

Jan 2026

1h 45m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

130 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

50+ Verified Ratings

When renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner learns of the death of one of her patients she is deeply troubled. Convinced that it was murder, she decides to investigate....

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Critics Consensus

A Private Life mixes Hitchcockian suspense, glossy aesthetics, and a playful streak of camp into an entertaining if somewhat slight mystery that's held together by Jodie Foster's captivating presence.

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David Sexton

New Statesman

2h

What’s consistently rewarding is seeing Foster navigate French life and language so expertly while remaining aware she is not French and never will be, a fascination and plight for any Francophile.

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Danny Leigh

Financial Times

5h

3/5

The movie is filled with herrings redder than sunburn. Sometimes the effect is slyly funny — sometimes slight enough as to be a little exasperating. Foster, though? Un plaisir.

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Jake Wilson

Sydney Morning Herald

May 13

3/5

All the same, the film succeeds as a character study and a vehicle for Foster, as if the real point of the story were to show her in as many different lights as possible.

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Alistair Harkness

Scotsman

2d

3/5

...A Private Life is more character-driven caper than a rigorous whodunnit, but Foster’s funny, weird and game performance as a psychiatrist who can’t always see what’s in front of her carries it through ...

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Stefania Sarrubba

The Skinny

3d

A Private Life balances Lilian’s cynicism with levity and playfulness courtesy of the chemistry between Foster and Auteuil and some fine psychiatry humour.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

3d

4/5

…A Private Life the kind of elegant, intriguing film that only the French can make; it’s a welcome return to the big screen for Jodie Foster, still a powerful presence and an empathetic lead….

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Lili

Mar 1

Great movie, but it seemed to end abruptly.

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Susan C

Feb 22

Jodie Foster is an American treasure and her acting was good in this film. But, the story line was a bit obtuse and implausible … the film kept my interest, though … and I was super impressed with Foster’s fluency in French.

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Helen A

Feb 10

a muddled improbable plot

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Charlie H

Feb 8

Fascinating idea but a very difficult one to put into film. Acting was superb as was the theme. Ending came out of nowhere.

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ssusan

Feb 7

Kept waiting for it to go somewhere. Jodie Foster was good. But script not so much.

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Meloney

Feb 7

I’m not sure I liked this movie… neurotic characters… messy interpersonal relationships… the conclusion was a little vague. It was great to see Jodie Foster, and her French was excellent. I hope we’ll see her in more films.

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Rebecca Zlotowski

Director

Jodie Foster

Lilian Steiner

Daniel Auteuil

Gabriel Haddad

Virginie Efira

Paula Cohen-Solal

Mathieu Amalric

Simon Cohen-Solal

Vincent Lacoste

Julien Haddad-Park

A Private Life: Extended Preview

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A Private Life: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

When renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner learns of the death of one of her patients she is deeply troubled. Convinced that it was murder, she decides to investigate....

Director: Rebecca Zlotowski
Producer: Frédéric Jouve
Screenwriter: Rebecca Zlotowski, Anne Berest, Gaëlle Macé
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Les Films Velvet, France 3 Cinéma
Rating: R (Language|Graphic Nudity|Brief Violence|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: French
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 16, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 3, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.4M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)