Rust and Bone (2012, dir. Jacques Audiard) ****/****

"Rust and Bone" is a powerful film from Jacques Audiard, the director of 2009's "A Prophet".  Marion Cotillard plays Stephanie, an orca trainer at Marineland who tragically loses both her legs in a horrific accident on the job.  Ali (Matthias Schoenaerts) plays a streetfighting tough guy with a 5-year old son.  One day before her accident, Stephanie meets Ali at a nightclub where he is a bouncer.  After she gets in a fight, Ali drives her home where he eventually gets her number.  After Stephanie loses her legs, she calls Ali and they start to see each other.  The relationship which they develop is the main focus of the story and its is a relationship that is heart-felt and genuine.  There are some powerful moments throughout the film as Stephanie slowly learns to deal with her new predicament and eventually the relationship becomes physical.  The performances from the two leads are spectacular.  Cotillard brings her character to life in a way that makes us feel for her difficulties and struggles.  Schoenaerts' Ali is a brutish, violent character but the actors performance is so good that he somehow makes us care about him.  This is a great film and should not be missed.