L'Engloutie

1899. On a stormy night, Aimée, a young schoolteacher, arrives in a snow-covered hamlet in the Hautes-Alpes. Although the villagers are wary of her, she is determined to use her knowledge to shed light on their dark beliefs. As she becomes part of the community, a sense of sensual confusion begins to grow within her. Until one day, the first mountain dweller is buried by an avalanche.

In her striking feature debut, French director Louise Hémon brings the forces of Enlightenment and mysticism into conflict in a remote mountain village. She visually underscores this conflict by contrasting dark interiors with the glittering snowy landscape. Based on records from Hémon’s family history, the story lends the film an immersive, hypnotic atmosphere.