Elisabeth (Agathe Rousselle) is a depressed woman working for a concierge company in Paris, showing often-rude tourists to their rented apartments for the Olympic games — a stressful job that has her flitting around the city. The only respite she has is by disconnecting her hearing aid and gazing at Monet’s “Water Lilies.” However, everything changes when she meets a free-spirited young traveller (Alex Lawther) who brings much-needed joy and adventure to Elisabeth’s life while the city around them buzzes with energy.

A Second Life is a deeply felt film about the unexpected connections we make in life. Largely filmed on the streets of Paris, it captures the genuine magic of the French capital without resorting to the usual cliches associated with the city of light. Touching on themes of mental health and disability with an uncommon grace, A Second Life is a genuinely warm-hearted film about living in the moment.—Frédéric Boyer

Laurent Slama