Jodie Foster Joins Rebecca Zlotowski’s “Vie Privée” for Her Next Cinematic Venture

The Oscar-winning actor returns to French cinema alongside Daniel Auteuil in a story of complex characters and emotional depth.

Jodie Foster, the acclaimed actor and filmmaker, is set to star in the French film Vie Privée, the latest directorial project by Rebecca Zlotowski. Currently filming in France, the film follows Zlotowski’s critically acclaimed Other People’s Children, which competed at the Venice Film Festival in 2022.

Joining Foster in the cast is celebrated French actor Daniel Auteuil, known for La Belle Époque. The screenplay is co-written by Zlotowski, Anne Berest—renowned for her work on Happening—and Gaëlle Macé, a frequent collaborator with Zlotowski, most notably on Grand Central. Frederic Jouve, Zlotowski’s longtime producer at Les Films Velvet, is producing the film.

Foster’s involvement with Vie Privée reflects her tendency to carefully select roles, gravitating toward films with nuanced storytelling. Her partnership with Zlotowski is an exciting alignment, as both artists are drawn to character-driven dramas often focused on female protagonists.

Zlotowski is known for her distinct directorial style and has garnered praise for films such as Une Fille Facile (Cannes Directors’ Fortnight 2019), Grand Central (Un Certain Regard 2013), Belle Épine (Critics’ Week 2010), and Planetarium (Venice 2016).

Vie Privée marks another chapter in Foster’s history with French cinema. Fluent in French, Foster first acted in the language at age 14 in Fleur Bleue and later collaborated with legendary director Claude Chabrol on The Blood of Others (1984). Chabrol once praised her as “extremely bright,” noting her impressive understanding of filmmaking’s technical aspects. Foster has also cited French classics like The 400 Blows and Murmur of the Heart as formative influences, crediting her mother, a passionate cinephile, for her love of French cinema.

Foster’s bond with France extends beyond film. In August 2024, she delivered a heartfelt speech at the 80th anniversary of Paris’s liberation, alongside President Emmanuel Macron. She also presided over the Cesar Awards in 2011 and received an Honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021.

With Vie Privée, Foster and Zlotowski appear poised to deliver another memorable work, adding depth and prestige to French cinema.