Mimi

Claire Simon and Mimi Chiola have been friends since childhood. Many decades later, Mimi leads her friend through her Nice, to the places of her childhood and youth, which were characterised by the early death of her father and the departure of her older brother, leaving her in precarious circumstances with her sickly mother. The camera is often close to Mimi's face, which reflects her emotions as memories emerge during the walks and she recounts past experiences and hurts, sketching out her autobiography piece by piece. Even as a child, Mimi felt attracted to women; her coming out is a struggle for acceptance and love. In her mid-twenties, Mimi moves from the coastal town to a village in the mountains beyond, opens a restaurant with friends, experiences a kind of respect from the villagers despite her different life experiences and attitudes and finds a home for her dreams. (Andrea Pollach)

In the presence of Claire Simon on 18.1.2025

Photo: Austrian Film Museum