A latest film, “The Richest Woman in the World,” directed by Thierry Klifa, explores the life of a cosmetics empire heiress and the controversial relationships that surrounded her, drawing inspiration from the story of Liliane Bettencourt, the former L’Oréal owner who died in 2017.
The film, starring Isabelle Huppert as Marianne, centers on a wealthy woman whose life is disrupted by the arrival of a charismatic photographer, Pierre-Alain, played by Laurent Lafitte. Marianne, described as elegant but reserved, finds herself captivated by the artist, who initially criticizes her appearance before injecting a sense of spontaneity into her life. Still, his motives are quickly revealed to be financial, as he readily accepts large sums of money from the heiress.
Klifa, in an interview with SRF, explained his fascination with the world of the French upper class, stating, “The world of the French Catholic haute-bourgeoisie is very rarely shown in cinema. It is a world that shields itself because You’ll see many secrets behind closed doors. That fascinated me.” He added that he specifically envisioned Huppert in the role, believing she could bring a necessary ambiguity and depth to the character, hinting at a hidden complexity beneath a conventional exterior.
The film’s narrative echoes the real-life scandal involving Bettencourt and photographer François-Marie Banier. Bettencourt lavished Banier with gifts and money, a situation that led to a legal battle initiated by her daughter, Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers, who accused Banier of exploiting her mother’s vulnerability. Banier was ultimately convicted and sentenced to prison after being found to have defrauded Bettencourt of approximately one billion euros.
Klifa emphasized that the film aims to portray the isolating effects of wealth. “It must be clear that wealth does not protect you,” he said. “That does not mean that one should feel sorry for the super-rich. But wealth does not protect against sorrow, loneliness, or bad decisions.” A character in the film echoes this sentiment, stating, “The Americans say: You feel lonely at the top!”
Huppert’s performance has been praised for capturing the arrogance and elegance of the wealthy socialite. The film likewise features Marina Foïs as Marianne’s daughter, highlighting the strained relationship between mother and daughter, further complicated by the photographer’s influence.
“If you are rich, you no longer belong to yourself,” Marianne declares in a pivotal scene, suggesting that wealth can attract opportunistic individuals and erode one’s sense of self. “The Richest Woman in the World” premiered in German-speaking Switzerland on March 19, 2026.
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