Pearl

Eden Palace, an international women's bodybuilding competition, 48 hours before the final. Lea Pearl is about to compete for the first time for the prestigious title of Miss Heaven. Years of training, iron discipline and a strict diet have brought her to this point. Her body is perfectly defined, ready for the big moment on stage – but her mind is suddenly put to a hard test. Her ambitious mentor Al sees her as his chance to return to the top of the bodybuilding world himself. But shortly before the competition, Lea Pearl's past comes crashing back down on her: Ben, her ex-husband, turns up with their son Joseph, whom she has not seen for four years. Between a sense of duty and a re-encounter with her own motherhood, Lea is drawn into an emotional conflict that forces her to question her priorities. In PEARL, Elsa Amiel stages an intense drama that breaks down traditional notions of femininity, physicality and motherhood. The film unfolds a captivating tension between the ascetic, almost machine-like world of bodybuilding and the raw, uncontrollable emotions triggered by Lea Pearl's sudden confrontation with her past. PEARL celebrated its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival 2018 in the Giornate degli Autori section and was praised for its powerful imagery and outstanding performance by Julia Föry. With his cool, precise staging and impressive camerawork, Amiel manages to create a dense atmosphere that conveys both physical and emotional intensity.