The Ring Finger (2005)
A haunting French arthouse drama where obsession, desire, and a secretive laboratory draw a young woman into a deeply unsettling romance.
The Ring Finger - Movie Information
- Original Title: L'Annulaire
- Release Year: 2005
- Directed by: Diane Bertrand
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 40m
- Original Language: French
- Spoken Languages: French, English, Italian
- Release Date (Theatrical): June 8, 2005 (France), November 3, 2008 (United Kingdom)
- Production Companies: Les Films du Veyrier, Integral Film, Tapioca Films, Eurimages, La Région Île-de-France, FilmFörderung Hamburg, CNC, Canal+, The Bureau
- Production Countries: France, Germany, United Kingdom
The Ring Finger - Plot
When she is slightly hurt in the factory where she works, Iris quits her job and finds a new one as an assistant in a laboratory of a very peculiar kind. Without fully grasping what is at play around her, she gradually engages in a disturbing love affair with her enigmatic employer.
The Ring Finger - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a first glimpse of this atmospheric French drama.
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The Ring Finger - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Diane Bertrand
Main Cast
- Olga Kurylenko
- Marc Barbé
- Stipe Erceg
- Édith Scob
- Hanns Zischler
- Sotigui Kouyaté
- Doria Achour
- Anne Benoît
- Louis Dewynter
- Anne Fassio
Writers
- Diane Bertrand
Producers
- Bruno Berthemy
The Ring Finger - FAQs
What is The Ring Finger about?
The Ring Finger follows Iris, a young woman who leaves her factory job after a minor injury and takes up a position at a strange, secretive laboratory. There she becomes entangled in an unsettling romance with her mysterious employer, drifting into a world of obsession, desire, and quiet dread.
What is the strange laboratory in The Ring Finger?
The laboratory is deliberately kept enigmatic throughout the film. Its owner collects and preserves objects tied to personal memories — including body parts — submitted by clients. This eerie premise drives the film's unsettling atmosphere, blurring the line between intimacy, fetishism, and possession in deeply uncomfortable ways.
Where can you stream or watch The Ring Finger?
You can watch The Ring Finger on Amazon Video, where it's available to rent or buy. Check JustWatch for the most up-to-date streaming and viewing options available in your region.
Is The Ring Finger based on a novel?
Yes, The Ring Finger is adapted from Yoko Ogawa's 1994 Japanese novella of the same name. Ogawa's quietly disturbing prose style translates well to the film's dreamlike, unsettling tone. Director Diane Bertrand transposed the story to a French setting while preserving the source material's atmosphere of creeping unease.
Who are the main actors in The Ring Finger?
Olga Kurylenko leads the cast as Iris, delivering a quietly captivating performance in one of her early major roles. Marc Barbé plays the enigmatic laboratory owner opposite her, with Stipe Erceg, Édith Scob, and Hanns Zischler rounding out a strong supporting ensemble.
What themes does The Ring Finger explore?
The film digs into obsession, fetishism, and the unsettling power dynamics of desire. It examines how people surrender parts of themselves — literally and emotionally — to others. Memory, identity, and the fine line between intimacy and possession run throughout, wrapped in a cool, dreamlike visual style.
Who directed The Ring Finger and who composed the score?
Diane Bertrand directed the film, also writing the screenplay. The haunting score was composed by Beth Gibbons, the iconic voice of Portishead, whose atmospheric musical sensibility perfectly matches the film's mood of quiet dread and melancholic longing.
Is The Ring Finger worth watching for arthouse fans?
Absolutely. If you're drawn to slow-burn European arthouse cinema with a dark, sensual edge, The Ring Finger delivers. Olga Kurylenko's understated performance, Beth Gibbons' evocative score, and Bertrand's controlled direction make it a genuinely distinctive and memorable experience.
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