Visions du Réel 2026: Nicole Nicole (dir. Lauren Dällenbach) | Review
Touching and luminous, Nicole Nicole offers an intimate, family-centered narrative that tenderly captures a journey of emancipation as unconventional as it is uplifting.
Now in her fifties, Nicole still lives with her mother on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Over the years, mother and daughter have become locked in a relationship of interdependence, the fragility of which is now being called into question by the family. One of Nicole’s sisters, in particular, worries about what will happen to her when their mother passes away. As a neuroatypical woman, Nicole never received the proper support needed to integrate into society or achieve independence. Her sister has begun the process of seeking government assistance, but atypical cognitive profiles remain misunderstood, and there are still few facilities adapted to supporting them in their daily lives.
It is within this context that Swiss director Lauren Dällenbach films her aunt, Nicole, during a pivotal period of her life as she begins her journey toward independence. The feature-length documentary Nicole Nicole is having its world premiere in the National Competition at Visions du Réel 2026. The film is composed of scenes of daily life, interactions between the director and her aunt, and discussions involving her mother and grandmother regarding Nicole’s future.
With this film project, Lauren Dällenbach casts a different gaze on her aunt, aligning herself with her way of thinking. In doing so, she provides Nicole with a genuine tool for expression, allowing her to give free rein to her unique sensitivity without fear of judgment. Notably, the director suggests creating a photo-roman – styled after the ones Nicole especially loves to read – in which aunt and niece play the various characters. Through her niece’s camera, which magnifies her presence, Nicole comes to life and shines.
In this sense, Nicole Nicole reminds us of Francesca Scalisi’s Valentina and the MUOSters, in which the director captures the blossoming of a young protagonist whose desires and atypical sensitivity were long restrained by her family’s lack of understanding.
Touching and luminous, the film documents Nicole’s path toward a form of emancipation, brought about by the combined effect of her niece’s creative process and her sister’s logistical support.
Explore our coverage of the 57th edition of Visions du Réel here.
