‘Forest High’ Review: Three Women Escape the Noise in a Beguiling Mountain Retreat of a Movie
#Forest High#Manon Coubia#Alpine retreat#female caretakers#solitude#disconnection#meditative film#Berlin Film Festival
📌 Key Takeaways
Manon Coubia's debut feature 'Forest High' follows three female caretakers at an Alpine lodge
The remote setting offers minimal comforts and no technology distractions
The film presents a meditative exploration of interior lives rather than dramatic plot
The women seek refuge from life's noise and find space for self-reflection
📖 Full Retelling
Manon Coubia's debut feature film 'Forest High,' reviewed by critic Guy Lodge on February 22, 2026, presents a triptych of three female caretakers working at a remote Alpine hikers' lodge where they seek refuge from life's noise and find space for self-reflection in the mountain solitude. The film is set in a humble Alpine refuge where luxuries are scarce and only essential comforts are available - hot water runs just a couple of hours a day, meals are simple and nourishing but unadorned, and technology is intentionally kept at bay. This environment serves as both workplace and sanctuary for the women who run the place across different seasons and weathers, allowing them to hit pause on their lives and perhaps finally hear themselves in the profound silence. Coubia's 'gorgeous, whispering' first feature is not a film of major dramatic incidents or revelations, but rather a subtle exploration of interior lives and the transformative power of disconnection from the modern world, with its emotional payoff described as 'clear and cleansing as a mountain spring.'
The Berlin International Film Festival (German: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (German pronunciation: [bɛʁliˈnaːlə] ), is an annual film festival held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festival has been held every February since ...
This film review highlights an emerging female director's debut feature that focuses on quiet character studies rather than dramatic plot, representing a significant artistic approach in contemporary cinema. It matters because it showcases films that prioritize introspection and subtle storytelling over conventional narrative structures, offering audiences an alternative cinematic experience.
Context & Background
Manon Coubia's debut feature film 'Forest High'
The story follows three female caretakers at an Alpine hikers' lodge
The setting is a remote refuge with minimal comforts
The film is described as a triptych tracing interior lives
It premiered or was reviewed around February 2026
What Happens Next
The film will likely continue its festival run or secure distribution following this positive review. Audience and critic reception will determine its broader release and potential influence on similar quiet, character-driven filmmaking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Forest High?
The film was directed by Manon Coubia.
What is the setting of the movie?
It is set in a remote Alpine hikers' lodge with minimal amenities.
What type of film is Forest High?
It is a character-driven drama focusing on the interior lives of three women.
Original Source
Feb 22, 2026 1:00am PT ‘Forest High’ Review: Three Women Escape the Noise in a Beguiling Mountain Retreat of a Movie Manon Coubia's subtly enveloping debut feature is a triptych tracing the interior lives of three female caretakers at a humble Alpine hikers' lodge. By Guy Lodge Plus Icon Guy Lodge Film Critic @guylodge Latest ‘Forest High’ Review: Three Women Escape the Noise in a Beguiling Mountain Retreat of a Movie 7 minutes ago Wim Wenders Speaks Out at Berlin Film Festival Awards Ceremony: ‘Cinema Is More Resistant to Oblivion Than the Internet’ 13 hours ago Berlin Film Festival: İlker Çatak’s ‘Yellow Letters’ Wins Golden Bear for Best Film, Sandra Hüller Wins Best Lead Performance (Full List of Winners) 16 hours ago See All There are no luxuries and only the most essential comforts on offer at the remote Alpine refuge where “ Forest High ” is set: Hot water runs just a couple of hours a day, the soup served for dinner is thin and blandly nourishing, and don’t ask where to charge your phone, because you’ll be met with a polite but firm refusal. It’s a place for passing hikers to rest, not to vacation — though for the women who run the place, across different seasons and weathers, it’s somewhere to stay and hit pause on life, and perhaps to finally hear yourself in the silence. Manon Coubia ‘s gorgeous, whispering first feature is therefore not a film of major dramatic incidents and revelations, though its payoff is clear and cleansing as a mountain spring. Related Stories CBS 'Censorship' of Stephen Colbert Slammed by Democratic FCC Commissioner as Latest 'Corporate Capitulation' to Trump Administration
