Christine Blanc (Sasha Andres) is a single woman working as a temp. She lies to co-workers, and her parents, telling them she lives with her boyfriend. She's socially awkward, and spends hours wandering the misty outskirts of town or sitting at the mall alone, observing people. She tries to talk to people, but she tries too hard, and they are put off. Uncertain of what to say to people, she uses snatches from conversations she's overheard. She's drawn to her boss at the employment agency, Patricia (Catherine Mouchet), and when Patricia has a fight with her boyfriend, Christine seizes the opportunity and invites her to dinner. Despite a few awkward moments, mostly caused by Christine's desperation to please, the dinner goes reasonably well. A surprising turn of events soon changes the course of Christine's life. Before long, she's gotten her driver's license, co-workers are inviting her out for drinks, she starts dating Eric (Eric Caravaca), and she is offered a permanent position at her job. But life isn't perfect. There are a couple of co-workers who pester her, and the police are soon questioning her about the death of an acquaintance. Degas (Carlo Brandt), an inspector, seems particularly interested in the case. Or is he interested in her? Elle Est des Nôtres marks the feature debut of director Siegrid Alnoy, who co-wrote the script with Jérôme Beaujour (
A Single Girl) and François Favrat (
Seaside). The film won a FIPRESCI Prize at the 2003 Stockholm Film Festival and a Special Mention at the 2003 Thessaloniki Film Festival. It was also shown at the Walter Reade Theater in New York as part of the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Rendez-Vous With French Cinema in 2004. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide