The Demon Stirs

The Demon Stirs (Le Démon de midi) is a 2005 French comedy directed by Marie-Pascale Osterrieth, adapted from Florence Cestac's 1996 graphic novel of the same name. Michèle Bernier and Simon Abkarian take the leading roles, with Claudia Cardinale and Hiyam Abbas among the supporting cast. The original title refers to a French expression for the midlife crisis, and the film mines that territory for humor, following a couple whose desires and emotional turbulence come to the surface at this turning point in their lives. Osterrieth's picture fits within the French tradition of bringing popular bandes dessinées to the screen, translating Cestac's comic sensibility into a light, playful theatrical comedy.