Ashes and Blood

Ashes and Blood is a 2009 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Fanny Ardant. It was given a special screening at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.

Plot

A widow, Judith returns to Marseille with her children for the wedding of her sister-in-law. Judith's husband was murdered in a vendetta-killing a decade earlier. In keeping with the Greek tragedy tradition of the film, violent family rivalries unravel with fatal consequences.

Cast

Ronit Elkabetz as Judith
Abraham Belaga as Pashko
Marc Ruchmann as Ismaël
Claire Bouanich as Mira
Fanny Ardant
Zoltán Butuc as Fiancé de Judith
Mădălina Constantin
Oana Pellea
Olga Tudorache
Răzvan Vasilescu
Ion Besoiu

Reception

Libération described it as "stunning, magnificent, beautiful and dazzling". The newspaper also remarked it was a remarkable achievement for a directorial debut, continuing to praise the strength of the cinematography. The newspaper also praised the casting, "the great Ronit Elkabetz is a tremendous credit, as well as the Romanian revelation, Mădălina Constantin."