Down by Love

Based on a true story, the impossible love between a prison director and one of its female inmates. Jean Firmino is happily married to Elise (Stéphanie Cleau) and together they have a young daughter, Louise. He is the hands-on director of a women’s prison fully involved in the day-today-running of the institution. Anna is already several years into a long sentence for an unspecified crime when she is transferred to Firmino’s prison to be closer to her family. Firmino finds himself drawn to the attractive, enigmatic Anna and his desire to help her improve her education soon becomes an all-consuming passion for the young woman. Anna reciprocates and the two are caught in a dangerous relationship both are powerless to end.

Keywords

  • (Un)happy Valentine !
  • Adèle Exarchopoulos
  • Behind Bars
  • Best Novels Adaptation
  • Best Novels Adaptation (home)
  • Impossible Love
  • prison

Actors

  • Marie Rivière
  • Sabila Moussadek
  • Adèle Exarchopoulos
  • Guillaume Gallienne
  • Stéphanie Cléau

Director

  • Pierre Godeau

Drama


1h 50min


-12

FR

France
2015
Based on a true story, the impossible love between a prison director and one of its female inmates.

Based on a true story, the impossible love between a prison director and one of its female inmates.


Jean Firmino is happily married to Elise (Stéphanie Cleau) and together they have a young daughter, Louise. He is the hands-on director of a women’s prison fully involved in the day-today-running of the institution. Anna is already several years into a long sentence for an unspecified crime when she is transferred to Firmino’s prison to be closer to her family. Firmino finds himself drawn to the attractive, enigmatic Anna and his desire to help her improve her education soon becomes an all-consuming passion for the young woman. Anna reciprocates and the two are caught in a dangerous relationship both are powerless to end.

Cast & Crew