The Birthday Party review – grimly compulsive unhappy occasion in deepest France Léa Mysius's "The Birthday Party" is a home invasion suspense thriller adapted from Laurent Mauvignier's bestseller "Histoires de la Nuit".
Praise has been heaped on the film for its memorable characters, sinister rural setting, and intense shootouts. But what sets it apart is its thought provoking exploration of the darker side of rural France.
The protagonist, Thomas, a dairy farmer struggling to keep his family's smallholding afloat, exemplifies the economic realities faced by many rural communities in France.