The Names of Love
The Names of Love (Le Nom des gens) is a 2010 French romantic comedy directed by Michel Leclerc. It tells the story of a lively Parisian left-wing activist who tries to win people over to her politics by dating them, even if they oppose her views. She meets someone who challenges her approach, and a romance follows.
Starring Sara Forestier and Jacques Gamblin. Written by Michel Leclerc and Baya Kasmi. Producers: Antoine Rein, Fabrice Goldstein and Caroline Adrian.
The film is in French, runs about 100 minutes, and had a budget of around $2.5 million. It was released on July 10, 2010, and grossed about $6.1 million worldwide. European admissions were 764,821.
Awards and recognition: It won two César Awards in 2011, including Best Actress for Sara Forestier and Best Original Screenplay.
Themes and notes: The film touches on serious topics such as the Holocaust, the Algerian War, and child sexual abuse. Former French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin makes a cameo.
Reception: Generally positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes shows about 72% from 53 critics, and Metacritic scores it 62/100 from 19 reviews. A memorable scene features Forestier walking in boots through Paris streets, with many passersby unaware a film was being shot.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 16:44 (CET).