Marine Atlan's 'La Gradiva' Sets Pompeii as Backdrop for Teen Desire and Artistic Awakening
Marine Atlan's first feature film, 'La Gradiva,' tells the story of a high school class on a field trip to Pompeii and Naples, intertwining themes of youthful longing and existential dread with the catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago. This project emerged from a 1994 Arte initiative focused on adolescent-themed films, featuring notable directors such as André Téchiné and Claire Denis. Atlan, who gained recognition for his work in 'Le Ravissement' (2023), was inspired by Freud's 1907 analysis of Jensen's 1903 novella 'Gradiva.' The film, co-written with Anne Brouillet, spans 145 minutes and is set to be released in theaters on October 21, 2026, while incorporating diverse characters and historical contexts to address social issues.
Key facts
- 'La Gradiva' is Marine Atlan's first feature film, running 145 minutes and released in French theaters on October 21, 2026
- The film depicts a high school class's field trip to Naples and Pompeii with their Latin teacher, linking teen desire to the Vesuvius eruption nearly 2,000 years ago
- It originated from an Arte commission for a 1994 film collection titled 'Tous les garçons et les filles de leur âge', which invited directors including André Téchiné, Claire Denis, Chantal Akerman and Olivier Assayas
- Atlan was previously a cinematographer on 'Le Ravissement' (2023), 'Les Reines du drame' (2024) and 'L'Engloutie' (2025)
- The title references Sigmund Freud's 1907 book on Wilhelm Jensen's 1903 novella 'Gradiva, fantaisie pompélienne', about an archaeologist obsessed with a bas-relief
- The 'Gradiva' motif inspired Surrealists including Salvador Dalí and André Breton
- Scenes span the Villa of the Mysteries and the National Archaeological Museum of Naples
- Atlan co-wrote the screenplay with Anne Brouillet after months observing lycéens, and cites Maurice Pialat's idea of transforming the sordid into the marvelous
Entities
Artists
- Marine Atlan
- Suzanne Gerin
- Mitia Capellier-Audat
- Colas Quignard
- André Téchiné
- Claire Denis
- Chantal Akerman
- Olivier Assayas
- Sigmund Freud
- Wilhelm Jensen
- Salvador Dalí
- André Breton
- Anne Brouillet
- Maurice Pialat
- Madame Mercier
- Toni
- James
- Suzanne
Institutions
- Arte
- Arte France Cinema
- Films du poisson
- Bibi Film TV
- Beaux Arts Magazine
- Cinémathèque française
- Semaine de la Critique
- Cannes Film Festival
Locations
- Pompeii
- Naples
- Italy
- Vesuvius
- Villa of the Mysteries
- National Archaeological Museum of Naples
- Versailles
- France
- Cannes