By Lia DeFonce-Martini
A French series that investigates what it’s truly like to walk a mile in someone else’s
shoes, rather, spend each day in seven different people’s lives. It is a Netflix drama
series (original title Les 7 vies de Léa) that deals with many crucial themes, including
racism, sexism, interpersonal violence, body shaming, and sexuality. The heroine,
17-year-old Léa, is introduced as she wanders a rave in a remote gorge in a
drug-induced trance, feeling utterly alone. When all of a sudden she finds a dead body.
shoes, rather, spend each day in seven different people’s lives. It is a Netflix drama
series (original title Les 7 vies de Léa) that deals with many crucial themes, including
racism, sexism, interpersonal violence, body shaming, and sexuality. The heroine,
17-year-old Léa, is introduced as she wanders a rave in a remote gorge in a
drug-induced trance, feeling utterly alone. When all of a sudden she finds a dead body.
The next day, she wakes up as Ismaël in the year 1991, wearing the bracelet that she
discovered on the body she discovered yesterday. Coming to terms with the situation,
she continues to ask, “Why am I here anyway?” (S1:E1). Léa soon realizes that the
anniversary of Ismaël’s death is six days away. Making matters worse, the next day
she wakes up in the body of her own mother. Not only is she living in the 90s, but she
is attending high school and is dating the man that will become her father.
This murder mystery develops as Léa discovers the secrets behind Ismaël’s
disappearance, a young and ambitious writer and musician. The moral of this story
lies within the details of the past. Léa herself is confused about her larger purpose and
her deep feelings for Ismaël, which develop as she lives in other people’s bodies. This
story finds understanding for the individual experience (of her parents and others) as
aspiring musicians, teenagers, and the dramatic role that they played in Ismaël’s
death.
I enjoy how this psychological drama forces Léa to ask what role her own parents play
in this event and what secrets are being hidden. She experiences a deep moral
dilemma, fearing that she may incriminate her own parents while she is in the past. As
stated, many thematic topics are discussed throughout the piece, such as Ismaël
dealing with racist comments from his peers and body shaming done by the friends of
the high-school bully while Léa is in his body. This show does an excellent job of
commenting on serious issues dealt with by individuals in the 90s and present day.
I have rewatched this series countless times. I am drawn to this show not only because
of its intriguing murder mystery plot but also the heart of the show as well. The sad,
confusing, but hopeful emotions in this film keep me coming back. I attribute that to
Léa’s character, who tries her best to fix the past and save the life of the man that she
has fallen in love with. All within the crucial theme, which is demonstrated by…“to
try, to fall, get back up and succeed” (S1:E3).
Leave a Reply