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

143 Reviews

64%

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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Miriam Balanescu

Empire Magazine

Jul 1

3/5

This stylish, silly and strange whodunnit/family-drama mash-up, while shaky at times, is a fun filmic amuse-bouche, with Foster on top form.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Jul 1

The screenplay doesn’t hold up to scrutiny: it’s a flimsy thing, barely propped up by unconvincing character behaviour and a tenuous foray into regression hypnosis.

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Linda Marric

HeyUGuys

Jun 30

3/5

The film succeeds primarily because of Jodie Foster's exceptional performance.

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Chezelle Bingham

Radio Times

6d

4/5

Unlike such other entries in the sub-genre, which often struggle to explore characters beyond their motives, A Private Life is also interested in examining the guilt and grief felt by its players.

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Tom Shone

Sunday Times (UK)

Jul 1

3/5

The film is a little like one of those gamey, slightly camp reworkings of Hitchcock that Roman Polanski used to make, and I would give it a hard pass were it not for the sound of Foster’s fluent French and the delightful chemistry between her and Auteuil.

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Mutale Kampuni

Film Ireland Magazine

Jul 1

The ensemble cast delivers strong and nuanced performances.

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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

1:47

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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)