User Reviews

I have recently watched a movie with Ludivine Sagnier (the movie 'Devil's Double') and I like her. I thought I'd watch this 'Pieds Nus Sur Les Limaces' which also featured Diane Kruger I happen to like as well. Boy, was I disappointed. The movie for the first half seemed to have potential for developing into a good character study and even some adventure and philosophical conclusion. It may well have such a philosophical conclusion and it is certainly a good character study, but not one I could relate to. The character of Lily, played by Sagnier, completely overpowers the one of her sister Clara, played by Kruger. That was the disappointment for me.

The love, caring and devotion Clara shows for her sister following the death of their mother was inspiring. It did not last. I was sorry to see the marriage of Clara break apart, sorry to see Clara give in to the total freedom her sister's life was all about. This would have appealed to me in a book, but for some reason did not work in a movie, it just doesn't. Someone ought to put the script in book form; It would stand a pretty good chance of success I think. I doubt most movie-goers will feel much different about this motion picture, than I have. I suggest you read the other user review preceding mine for a positive view of the film; it has as much merit as mine.

Pieds Nus sur les Limaces (2010) literally means barefoot on slugs. We see Ludivine Sagnier and Diane Kruger as the two sisters Lily and Clara with different characters. Lily lives with her mother, is extremely sensitive. She appears to be light autistic. Clara is the house wife of a lawyer and lives in Paris. The film begins with the fatal accident of their mother. She suffers a heart attack in the car and rolls slowly against a hay bale while Lily is still waving her goodbye. It brings Lily in trouble, because she is left alone and can't take care of herself. She does all sorts of weird stuff, but there is always a deeper meaning behind it. Strangers arrive at her place and seem to misuse the situation. Or at least her hospitality. Clara comes to the countryside and we get a game of attraction and repulsion between a civil city girl and a autistic moron. That leads to a lot of crazy situations. Lily is in love with the boy next door, but cannot act accordingly and is almost f*** by three young boys. Diane saves her just in time. Eventually Clara is caught by the free life without obligations of Lily. She experiences a hot night with one of the strangers under the open sky. Lily has freed her sister! Well, that kind of things. It ends that Lily and Clara find each other in the free living. They start selling the curiosities of Lily in an old van while crossing the country. How idyllic. Pieds Nus sur les Limaces is nicely filmed and the subject is interesting. Despite the truly impressive acting of Ludivine Sagnier and the good (anti)-chemistry with Diane Kruger Pieds Nus sur les Limaces does not really impressed me or touched me. I think the scenario is on one hand too clichéd, on the other hand too stilted. Already the death of the mother leads to a kind of incomprehension. The attempt of Clara to murder Lily in the bath is over-the-top. Instead of shocked or moved, I almost dropped out. But go see the movie for the two excellent French actresses!

'Pieds Nus' (= French for 'naked feet') stars Ludivine Sagnier in her magnificent role of a young mentally defected woman.

This statement really captures the backbone of 'Pieds Nus'. Its second star, Diane Kruger, also shines as Ludivine's caring sister.

I suppose not everyone will be attracted to this film, for psychiatry is not a popular subject. Indeed, I feel one should already be happy if 'Pieds Nus' helps to create some understanding about mental illnesses. And some admiration for those who care for such patients as well.

Sagnier and Kruger both point this out most convincingly. Supported by a team of other good actors, by a plot that never goes dull, all embedded in a fine shooting.