“Elise Under the Influence”: A film about anxiety and rebuilding

For "Elise Under the Influence," her film about panic attacks, this director drew inspiration… from goats. A guest on the set of "C à vous" on France 5, Marie Rémond discussed the very particular way myotonic goats freeze when frightened. By Valentin Etancelin Share Our goat friends probably have more in common with some of us than just a love of climbing trees. Panic attacks, in particular. A guest on the latest episode of "C à vous" on France 5, this Monday, April 20th, the director of the film "Elise Under the Influence," which opens in theaters this Wednesday, seems to share this opinion. "I came across a documentary," the filmmaker explained initially. "It was about goats that are only found in the United States, myotonic goats." Also known as "fainting goats," these women experience sudden muscle spasms when frightened, causing them to collapse abruptly to one side or the other. READ ALSO: "Just an Illusion" by Olivier Nakache and Éric Tolédano, a delightful and heartwarming journey through time. "It's genetic for them," explains Marie Rémond, who says she drew inspiration from this. In "Élise sous emprise" (Elise Under the Influence), the character she plays is trapped in a toxic relationship with a man. Propelled to the head of a theater troupe, she feels overwhelmed. Panic attacks multiply and leave her reeling. How can she regain control? A "slightly far-fetched" connection to goats: "The act of suddenly stiffening and freezing, for me, was completely parallel to the panic attacks you can have on the subway, when it stops between two trains and you feel like you're not going to be able to breathe," the filmmaker continued on Anne-Élisabeth Lemoine's show. Lemoine took the comparison even further in the screenplay for her film, initially titled *Goats Faint Too*. To help her calm down, Joseph, Élise's friend, doesn't ask her how she is. He puts a goat in her arms, a nod to emotional support animals, prescribed in the United States, among other places. Marie Rémond and Gustave Kervern, pictured here in *Élise Under the Influence*. A touch of humor to take things further. “I wanted the film to address what actually happens in the brain,” the director continues in the production notes. “The connection with myotonic goats is a bit far-fetched, but I enjoyed finding an expression for this ‘primitive’ animal brain, which reacts before it analyzes.” Action, reaction

Expected in theaters on May 13, 2026, Elise Under the Influence marks the new project from Marie Rémond, who both directs and stars in the film. This 86-minute dramedy explores the mechanisms of anxiety and the difficulties of breaking free from a toxic relationship, through a story that is both intimate and original. Surrounded by a strong cast, including José Garcia and Gustave Kervern, the filmmaker offers a work blending psychological fragility with touches of offbeat humor.

A heroine made vulnerable by her own inhibitions

The film follows Elise, a woman whose life is turned upside down when she finds herself directing a theater company after the sudden disappearance of the director she was assisting. Already trapped in a suffocating romantic relationship, she must also contend with increasingly overwhelming panic attacks. This double upheaval plunges her into profound instability, where doubt and fear take hold.

Through this chaotic journey, the story explores the ability to regain control of one's life. Caught between professional pressure, emotional dependency, and anxiety disorders, Élise constantly wavers, hinting at a possible emancipation within this very confusion.

An unexpected inspiration for evoking anxiety

To give substance to these disorders, Marie Rémond drew on a unique idea she mentioned during her appearance on the television program C à vous. She explained that she was inspired by myotonic goats, animals that suddenly freeze in fear. This phenomenon, she said, concretely illustrates the body's reaction during a panic attack.

This deliberately offbeat parallel is even present in the film, bringing an unexpected touch of humor to a serious subject. By blending a scientific approach, animal metaphors, and personal narrative, Elise Under the Influence offers an original way of addressing the mechanisms of anxiety, while remaining accessible and sensitive.