A Thorn in the Heart

Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) is a filmmaker known for breaking new ground — be it in the world of commercial advertising, directing music videos for the likes of Bjork and The White Stripes, or helming imaginative features like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Dave Chapelle’s Block Party, or the upcoming The Green Hornet. Gondry’s newest film, THE THORN IN THE HEART (L'Epine dans le Coeur), further propels his filmography into the realm of the unvisited with a personal look at the life of Gondry family matriarch, his aunt Suzette Gondry, and her relationship with her son, Jean—Yves. Michel examines Suzette’s years as a schoolteacher and her life in rural France. During the course of filming the documentary, new family stories are unearthed and Michel uses his camera to explore them in a subtle and sensitive way. THE THORN IN THE HEART had its world premiere screening in the official selection at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.

“This is an extraordinary film.” (David Edelstein, New York Magazine)