The films Vivre Sa Vie (My Life to Live) and Emporte-Moi (Set Me Free), are very similar when looking at the two main characters of the films, Nana and Hanna. However, the events and people surrounding the characters are different, to catch these similarities and differences throughout the second film (Emporte-Moi) it is imperative that the first film (Vivre Sa Vie) has been seen. The similarity is sprung when Hanna watches Vivre Sa Vie for the first time. Almost instantly she idolizes the main character Nana and it is then that Hanna's life begins to parallel Nana's. Both are on a search for their own identity separate from the outside forces that are trying to control them.
             In the film Emporte-Moi, Hanna comes from a difficult household where her parents seem to love each other but seem hate each other just as much, if not more. Hanna's father, an unpublished poet with no other work, and cannot find a way to show his family love. Instead he is very controlling of his family. He forces Hanna to cut her hair short like a boys. He makes his wife type his works at night. Her mother is over worked, working a seamstress during the day and a typist at night for Hanna's father. While at the same time she is very depressed and makes many suicide attempts, she is not there for Hanna either. Neither of Hanna's parents is there to guide her at a time where she is a difficult age of 13 and becoming a woman. This is why Hanna begins to look other places for guidance in her life. Through her idolization of Nana an idolization of her teacher is sprung. Hanna also associates her teacher with Nana, when she sees her teacher smoking the way Nana did in the movie. Hanna tries develop a special relationship with her teacher. Thus Hanna begins to look at Nana as well as to her teacher for guidance and inspiration in her life, instead of her parents. Guidance from her teacher has a much more positive effect on ...