“Ma Belle, My Beauty,” the latest film from writer/director Marion Hill, presents a relationship drama set in the South of France, where an unexpected encounter sparks renewed feelings and creates tension. The movie portrays a nontraditional, polyamorous dynamic, which deserves recognition for its inclusivity and representation within cinema. Previously, Bertie (Idella Johnson), Lane (Hannah Pepper-Cunningham), and Fred (Lucien Guignard) were involved in a complex relationship based in New Orleans. Issues arose when Fred and Bertie, both musicians, chose to relocate to the French countryside and marry. Concerned about Bertie’s growing depression, which is impacting her singing, Fred contacts Lane to orchestrate an impromptu visit. He anticipates that seeing her former partner again might lift his wife's spirits. However, the arrival of this old connection brings back their complicated past. Hill’s narrative feels deeply intimate and showcases characters rarely seen in film. Her script reveals just enough about each of them to maintain a deliberate sense of ambiguity. It becomes apparent that Lane’s interest in Bertie resembles an unhealthy dependence, but there's (thankfully) little animosity between the two women and Fred. Jealousy only emerges when Lane introduces a striking local woman (Sivan Noam Shimon) and engages in intimate activity nearby, triggering Bertie's reaction. While “Ma Belle, My Beauty” isn’t perfect, it is rewarding to witness a queer female relationship depicted with such ease and authenticity.

Source on TMDB