Prodigies

Frédéric Potier's 2024 French film is about twin sisters who play the piano. Claire and Jeanne share the same passion and have been trained by their father like athletes; eventually they are accepted at a prestigious conservatory. There they have to compete against each other to become soloists. Then both are diagnosed with a serious illness and begin losing the use of their hands. The film takes on what it means for a talent to depend on a body, and how a career can be lost along with it. The distinction between the father's ambition and what the daughters want for themselves is the tensest part of the story. The tone is emotional and follows the familiar shape of classical music drama. Who it's for: viewers who like music drama and French films about siblings. Who it's not for: anyone wanting an approach that avoids emotional manipulation; the film leans on the audience openly.