Hold Me Tight 2022

As the morning sun casts its gentle glow, Clarisse (Clarisse) slips out of her household, careful not to disturb the slumbering forms of her husband Marc, their children Paul and Lucie. Lucie, a budding pianist with a passion for music, pretends to be asleep as her mother gathers her belongings. Unbeknownst to them, Clarisse’s departure marks the beginning of a journey that will take her far from the familiar comforts of home.

Her first stop is a gas station, where she reunites with an old friend who tends to her car and poses a poignant question: “Are you running away?” The query is tinged with a hint of nostalgia, referencing a moment two months prior that has left its mark on Clarisse’s psyche. She responds by revealing her destination: the sea.

The next morning, Marc, Paul, and Lucie go about their daily routines, oblivious to the fact that something is amiss. Meanwhile, Clarisse finds herself lost in thought, conjuring conversations with each of her loved ones, as if they were responding to her musings. The family’s presence remains palpable, a constant reminder of the life she once knew.

As the days pass, Clarisse’s imagination becomes a sanctuary, allowing her to cope with the crushing weight of reality. She imagines herself at the beach, where she indulges in revelry and introspection, seeking solace in the company of fellow patrons. Her mind wanders to Marc, wondering how he will explain her departure to their children.

The months that follow bring a growing sense of friction between Marc and the kids as they struggle to come to terms with Clarisse’s prolonged absence. Unbeknownst to them, she is grappling with her own grief, finding comfort in narrating the lives of those she has lost. Her mental state becomes increasingly unstable, manifesting in outbursts of frustration, such as her altercation with a tour guest who scolds his child for fidgeting.

As the narrative unwinds, it becomes clear that Clarisse’s imagination is not just a coping mechanism, but a desperate attempt to hold on to the life she once knew. A flashback reveals the devastating truth: Marc, Lucie, and Paul perished in a skiing accident, buried beneath an avalanche, leaving Clarisse to grapple with the crushing weight of survivor’s guilt.

In this bleak landscape, Clarisse’s imagination becomes her only solace, allowing her to reimagine the lives she has lost. Her memories of meeting Marc for the first time in a club take on a new significance, as she realizes that the car he drove her home in is the same one she now drives, a constant reminder of the life they once shared.

As Clarisse strolls through the streets, her curiosity is piqued by a local choir group rehearsing in harmony, their pianist striking a chord that resonates with Lucie’s likeness. She observes the young musician board a bus, disappearing into the distance as the rhythmic pulse of the music lingers in her mind. Later, at a lounge bathed in warm ambiance, Clarisse connects with a flutist over a shared passion for Martha Argerich’s virtuosity. The evening takes an unexpected turn when she unfastens his shirt, placing her hand on his chest to feel the gentle beat of his heart before departing into the night.

Clarisse’s imagination then transports her to a future where Marc becomes the patriarch of a family, guiding Paul and Lucie as they navigate adolescence without their mother. In this poignant tableau, the Lucie she envisions blends the traits of the choir pianist and the legendary pianist Martha Argerich. Meanwhile, in the present, Lucie’s teacher urges her to take the leap and audition for the prestigious Conservatoire de Paris.

As winter’s chill begins to thaw at the ski resort, Clarisse returns to the scene of her earlier heartache, finding herself seated alone at a table set for four as the snow melts away. Her melancholic reverie is interrupted by the insistent barking of a German Shepherd outside. The same day, Lucie sets off for Paris, accompanied by a mix of trepidation and determination.

In a surprising twist, Clarisse finds herself in the judging room, taking her place alongside the auditioning musicians. However, her uninvited presence sends Lucie fleeing from the scene, revealing that the young pianist she had been watching was actually the choir group’s talented musician, whose own dream of attending the Conservatoire de Paris has been brutally interrupted by Clarisse’s meddling. The girl and her parents confront Clarisse, accusing her of stalking and harassing their daughter for months, threatening to summon the authorities unless she leaves.

As Clarisse departs, a sense of resignation washes over her as she whispers to herself, “I have to do it all alone.” The scene then rewinds, but this time, the barking dog heralds the arrival of the search and rescue team, bearing the lifeless bodies of Marc, Lucie, and Paul. Clarisse’s world shatters as she succumbs to grief, her cries echoing through the desolate landscape.

In the aftermath of this devastating revelation, a real estate agent helps Clarisse assess the empty house, now a poignant reminder of her shattered family. As she wraps up the photographs in Lucie’s sheet music, the weight of her loss becomes almost too much to bear. With tears streaming down her face, Clarisse departs into the unknown, leaving behind the ghosts of her past.

The credits roll as the soundtrack fades away, accompanied by the distant hum of traffic and the soothing melodies drifting from a radio in the background, a haunting reminder that life must go on, even in the face of unbearable loss.