Sauver Les Morts (Save the Dead) is an upcoming French-Armenian drama directed by Tamara Stepanyan, scheduled for theatrical release in France on July 9, 2025. A story rooted in memory, trauma, and rediscovery, the film blends personal grief with the collective wounds of war. This marks Stepanyan’s first feature-length fiction film following her critically acclaimed documentaries, and it promises to be one of the most emotionally resonant entries in the French cinema landscape this year.
- Title: Sauver Les Morts
- Genre: Drama, War, Mystery
- Director: Tamara Stepanyan
- Writers: Tamara Stepanyan, Jean-Christophe Ferrari, Jean Breschand, Jihane Chouaib, Romy Coccia di Ferro
- Main Cast: Camille Cottin, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Denis Lavant, Hovnatan Avédikian
- Cinematographer: Claire Mathon
- Language: French
- Runtime: TBA
- Release Date (France): July 9, 2025
- Production Companies: La Huit Productions, Pan Cinéma
- Distributor: Pan Distribution
- Filming Locations: Armenia, Paris
- Viewing Platform: Available through theatrical release and IPTV streaming via https://frenchiptv.shop/
Plot Synopsis: A Journey Into Memory and Secrets
Céline, a middle-aged French woman, travels to Armenia after her husband Arto dies suddenly. She arrives with a simple purpose: to arrange his funeral and settle his personal affairs. However, what starts as a routine trip quickly transforms into a haunting quest to uncover the truth behind her husband’s hidden past.
As Céline delves deeper, she realizes that Arto concealed critical aspects of his identity. He had fought in a war, changed his birth name, and fled his homeland under mysterious circumstances. Among his former war comrades, Céline finds not admiration but condemnation—they view Arto not as a hero, but as a deserter.
With each encounter—with veterans, survivors, and local historians—Céline pieces together fragments of a story far more complex than she ever imagined. These revelations force her to question everything she thought she knew about the man she loved.
Ultimately, her journey leads to a profound and unsettling question: Can the living truly redeem the dead?
Cast and Characters
Camille Cottin as Céline
Known for her powerful performances in Call My Agent! and Stillwater, Camille Cottin brings gravitas to the role of a grieving widow turned detective of memory. Her portrayal is expected to anchor the film with emotional depth.
Zar Amir Ebrahimi
A Cannes Best Actress winner (Holy Spider), Ebrahimi plays a key Armenian figure from Arto’s past. Her role appears pivotal in bridging the personal with the political.
Denis Lavant
A legendary French actor from Holy Motors, Lavant is likely to portray one of Arto’s war comrades, adding tension and philosophical complexity to the narrative.
Hovnatan Avédikian
A rising name in Armenian and European cinema, Avédikian rounds out a cast that reflects the multicultural and transnational nature of the story.
Direction and Cinematography
Tamara Stepanyan’s Vision
Tamara Stepanyan’s documentaries (Embers, Village of Women) have already demonstrated her skill in handling themes of displacement, war, and memory. Her transition to narrative fiction is both a bold and natural progression. She draws heavily from her Armenian roots, blending documentary-style realism with poetic storytelling.
Visual Language by Claire Mathon
With Claire Mathon behind the camera—renowned for Portrait of a Lady on Fire—viewers can expect breathtaking visual compositions, rich in atmosphere and symbolism. The contrast between Paris and the rugged Armenian countryside will serve as a visual metaphor for Céline’s emotional and investigative journey.
Production and Filming Background
Filming began on June 8, 2024, and lasted seven weeks. Most scenes were shot on location in Armenia. This choice added strong authenticity to the film’s atmosphere. They also filmed several days in Paris. This highlighted Céline’s roots and her distance from Arto’s hidden past.
From the start, the project received support from the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée (CNC). The National Cinema Center of Armenia also provided funding. This showed a strong Franco-Armenian cultural partnership.
To expand the film’s reach, Canal+ and Ciné+ acquired broadcasting rights early. This indicates high industry expectations. It also promises significant international visibility.
Historical and Political Context
While fictional, Sauver Les Morts is deeply grounded in real-world conflicts, particularly the wars in Nagorno-Karabakh during the 1990s and again in 2020. The film reflects on how political history impacts personal lives, and how memory is shaped not only by what is remembered but also by what is deliberately forgotten or distorted.
This makes the film not only a personal drama but a political meditation on war, exile, and fractured identities in post-Soviet spaces.
Themes Explored
- The burden of hidden histories
- Post-war trauma and survivor’s guilt
- The relationship between identity and exile
- Cross-cultural tension and reconciliation
- The role of memory in shaping the present
- The question of whether the dead can be “saved” by those they leave behind
Critical and Industry Buzz
Early buzz from French and European media suggests that Sauver Les Morts could premiere at major film festivals, potentially Venice or Locarno. With a timely theme and stellar cast, the film is poised to become a major talking point in 2025’s awards circuit.
Film critics are already anticipating Camille Cottin’s performance as one of the most emotionally powerful of her career.
Where to Watch Sauver Les Morts
Sauver Les Morts will be released in French theaters on July 9, 2025. For those who prefer to enjoy new releases from the comfort of home or from abroad, the film is expected to be available through IPTV services.
To watch this film online, visit https://frenchiptv.shop/ — the Best French IPTV Service. The platform offers premium access to the latest French films, including theatrical releases, live TV, and classic titles, all in one seamless experience.
Whether you’re in France, Canada, the Middle East, or anywhere else, https://frenchiptv.shop/ ensures you won’t miss the cinematic masterpieces of 2025.
Conclusion
Sauver Les Morts is not just a movie—it’s a cinematic meditation on the intersections of love, loss, war, and identity. With its powerful story, compelling performances, and timely themes, it stands as one of the most significant French drama releases of 2025.
To watch this exceptional film upon release, make sure to visit https://frenchiptv.shop/ — the go-to destination for French cinema lovers. Stream the best of France, no matter where you are in the world.
