Couture

Paris during Fashion Week is all surface, light and fabric and spectacle, and this drama drops an American filmmaker into the middle of it while something far heavier plays out underneath. The premise keeps its cards close, calling it a life-and-death journey, and the film seems built on exactly that contrast: an industry obsessed with appearance set against a woman confronting what actually matters. Self-discovery here comes with a deadline rather than a montage.

It will land best with viewers who like character studies that use glamour as a backdrop instead of a subject, and who are comfortable with a story that reveals itself slowly. Expect an unhurried hour and three-quarters, atmosphere doing much of the talking, and an emotional register that stays controlled rather than showy. Anyone drawn to films about women reassessing their lives in unfamiliar cities will find it worth the time, particularly on a quiet evening alone.