Curiosa

Set in late 19th century Paris, Curiosa follows a powerful and combustible bond between two writers whose collaboration becomes as intimate as their craft. Noémie Merlant portrays Marie de Régnier, a driven author eager to push boundaries, while Niels Schneider plays Pierre Louÿs, a magnetic figure whose ideas spark both attraction and conflict. As their affair deepens, they negotiate secrecy, jealousy, and the demands of a literary world that prizes novelty over convention. Against the echo of salon conversations, flirtations, and the city's lush streets, the film traces how passion shapes both lovers and the work they produce, without spoiling potential twists or endings. Its tone blends tenderness with restraint and hints at a larger struggle for female voices today.

Directed by Lou Jeunet and Raphaëlle Desplechin, Curiosa debuted in 2019 as a French drama weaving history with romance. The film centers on authors inspired by Pierre Louÿs and Marie de Régnier rather than presenting a strict biography on screen.

Box office data for Curiosa is not publicly disclosed and the film did not receive a wide international release. Its footprint remained modest, focused on film festivals, selective national bookings, and limited prestige markets rather than a broad commercial push.

There are no major awards or nominations listed for Curiosa. The film appears to be a character driven period piece rather than an awards circuit contender, and while performances and production design have drawn some attention, no prominent nominations have been documented. It has premiered at a few festivals abroad.

Reception has noted the film's lush look and the intensity of the central relationship, while foregrounding themes of sexual freedom and artistic ambition. It examines how love and creativity intersect in a late era when boundaries around women writers were expanding, inviting viewers to reconsider literary history through a lens.