Irene is touring the provincial towns of northern France with her deadpan-comedic one-woman show called "A Dirty Business of Sex and Crime". She performs in a mask, distancing herself from the persona she creates, and every night she chooses a man in the audience who must come on stage to perform with her. One very reluctant subject, Dries, finds himself so intrigued with the actress that he shows up night after night until this oddly mismatched pair begins a tentative romance. Yolande Moreau, actor/co-writer/co-director of the film, is a true original and a delight to watch. This performance won her the 2005 César (French Oscar) for Best Actress. The film is based on her life as an actor touring with the above-mentioned show, which she also wrote. Cinematographer Gilles Porte (who also co-wrote and co-directed) shoots with a distinctive flair. The acting is faultless throughout and the glimpses of small town life are rendered with generosity and humor. The ensemble is a post-modern romantic comedy, bittersweet, utterly real and very French. (Catherine Wyler)

2005 César Awards, France: WINNER Best Actress & Best First Work
2004 Namur International Festival of French-Speaking Film: WINNER Golden Bayard Award Best Actor & Actress
2004 Paris International Cinema Meeting: WINNER Audience Award
2004 Prix Louis Delluc: WINNER Prix Louis Delluc Award Best First Film

Directors/Writers: Yolande Moreau, Gilles Porte
Producer: Humbert Balsan

After working in children's theater for a few years in Brussels (Théâtre de la Ville de Bruxelles), Yolande Moreau trained with Philippe Gaulier. In 1982, she wrote and performed A Dirty Business of Sex and Crime, a tragi-comic one-woman show that toured all over France, Switzerland and Quebec. Moreau's recent film credits include THE MILK OF HUMAN KINDNESS, A PIECE OF SKY and FOLLE EMBELLIE. WHEN THE SEA RISES is her first feature film writing and directing credit.