An American writer living in exile in London, Philip listens to women. His English mistress, who visits him regularly in the studio that serves as their refuge. A student he loved in another life. A former lover confined to a hospital in New York.
Acting
Léa Seydoux weaponizes silence against Denis Podalydès's self-absorption.
Writing
Roth adaptation that weaponizes dialogue as seduction and trap.
Director
Arnaud Desplechin
Denis Podalydès
Philip
Léa Seydoux
The English Lover
Emmanuelle Devos
Rosalie
Anouk Grinberg
Philip's Wife
Mădălina Constantin
The Czech
Miglen Mirtchev
Ivan
Rebecca Marder
The Student
Saadia Bentaïeb
The Prosecutor
André Oumansky
Philip's Father
Gennadiy Fomin
The Czech Writer Friend
Frédérique Giffard
The Judge
Matej Hofmann
Czech Cop 2
Scott Thrun
CIA Agent
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This is Arnaud Desplechin's second adaptation of Philip Roth, following 2014's 'Jimmy P.' — he seems perversely drawn to American male narcissists.
The film's theatrical origins show in its single-location intensity; Desplechin shot much of it in actual London flats to capture that suffocating intimacy.
FR
