The Diary of a Chambermaid (2026 film)
2026 drama film by Radu Jude
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The Diary of a Chambermaid (French: Journal d'une femme de chambre) is a 2026 drama film written and directed by Radu Jude, in his French-language debut. It is loosely based on the novel of same name by Octave Mirbeau. Starring Ana Dumitrașcu, Mélanie Thierry and Vincent Macaigne, it follows Gianina (Dumitrașcu), a Romanian imigrant in Bordeaux, who is hired by a wheathy French family as cook, housekeeper and nanny.[1][2]
by Octave Mirbeau
| The Diary of a Chambermaid | |
|---|---|
| French | Le Journal d'une femme de chambre |
| Directed by | Radu Jude |
| Written by | Radu Jude |
| Based on | The Diary of a Chambermaid by Octave Mirbeau |
| Produced by | Saïd Ben Saïd |
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Marius Panduru |
| Edited by | Cătălin Cristuțiu |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Potemkine Films (France) |
Release date |
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Running time | 94 minutes |
| Countries |
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The film had its world premiere at the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on 15 May.[3]
Premise
Gianina, a young Romanian immigrant in France, works as a housekeeper for the bourgeois family Donnadieu.
Cast
- Ana Dumitrașcu as Gianina[4][5]
- Mélanie Thierry as Marguerite Donnadieu
- Vincent Macaigne as Pierre Donnadieu
- Marie Rivière as Madame Anne
- Louen Bouteiller as Louen
- Arnaud Baudoin as Kalil
- Ilinca Manolache as Ilinca
- Sofia Dragoman as Maria
- Liliana Ghiță as Bunica
Production
It was produced by Saïd Ben Saïd's SBS Productions, co-produced by Vlad Răduleșcu and Carmen Rizac's Avanpost, with the support of Canal +, Ciné+ OCS, Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée, Eurimages, La région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Bordeaux Métropole, BRD – Groupe Société Générale, Cinecap 9 and Cofinova 22.[4]
Principal photography began in October 2025,[6] in Bordeaux. Shooting wrapped on 3 November.[7]
Director Radu Jude clarified that the adaptation would not strictly follow Mirbeau's work, but that he appropriated the story of a young, precarious immigrant worker and adapted it in the context of contemporary France.[8]
Release
The film had its world premiere at the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on 15 May.[3] Marking Jude's first entry at the festival.
International sales will be handled by SBS International.[4]