I've Loved You So Long
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Movie Reviews of I've Loved You So Long
Movie Review: A Thoughtful Film From The French Cinema
Summary: 5 Stars
I have had a long time interest in well-made foreign films from an earlier period, mainly the then French New Wave. There will be reviews of some of that work in this space in the future but the mood of this recent film (2008) by Phillipe Claudel very much reminds of those earlier efforts.
*****
What is not to like about a very well done film (with French subtitles) about two estranged sisters, Lea and Juliette, who, because the older sister Juliette was in prison for the "murder" of her young son (that really is, as we find out toward the end, whatever moral qualms you might have to the contrary was a mercy killing and not some ruthless, senseless crazy cold-blooded act as one is led to assume at the beginning of the film ) have to come to grips with the fact that they are strangers. Have no fear though blood ties will out here, as the older sister returns to normalcy though an exploration of her truncated relationship with her sister, the sister's husband, their two adopted children and assorted other interested parties. All through this film starring Kristen Scott Thomas, the woman who was Ralph Fiennes' love interest (or he her's) in the excellent "The English Patient", as Juliette I kept thinking that while American director's specialize very well in a number of film genres they could never pull this off, with a length of almost two hours to boot. It deserved an award for "Best Foreign Film". No question.
Movie Review: A mysterious life opens up before us and we hang on every word
Summary: 5 Stars
This is such a good film. It is intelligent, with a script that slowly reveals secrets one at a time at a pace that keeps the viewer glued to the screen. It is well acted, with Kristin Scott Thomas demonstrating not only incredible acting skills but the ability to hold an entire film together with the power of her portrayal of a hurt woman, full of secrets and pain. Kristin Scott Thomas plays a woman released from prison after 15 years, and she is so full of pain, misery, and guilt that it is almost painful to watch her. She moves in with her sister and brother-in-law and gradually comes back into the world of the living, step by painful step, as the viewer puts together the pieces of her past life and her crime, step by painful step. I don't mean to make the film sound dreadful, it is not, but the film expects the viewer to be intelligent, patient, and resilient in the face of another's anguish. Gradually people come into the life of Juliette Fontaine and her social circle expands. Juliette has a younger sister who missed her and loved her and it is the courage to heal displayed in this younger sister that also is a fine attribute of the film. This is excellent film-making. The direction was subtle and was perfectly balanced between revealing the underlying secrets in the heart of Juliette balanced with the sticks and stones of everyday life. It is excellent storytelling.Movie Review: One of those movies you'll still be thinking about days and weeks later
Summary: 5 Stars
I think I'd call this a perfect gray day movie and I suggest seeing it with someone who's on your same wave length because, once it's over, you're going to want to talk about it and, perhaps, piece together the parts of the story that were merely alluded to.
Kristin Scott Thomas, in a quietly intense, brilliantly calibrated performance, plays a woman just freed after 15 years in prison for murder. Until she can establish a new life, she is to move in with the sister who never came to visit her in all those years and the sister's family--a worried husband, two young adopted daughters and the husband's father, a stroke victim who can no longer talk. Soon a parole officer who dreams of visiting the Orinoco and a university colleague of the sister, who once taught in a prison, assume key roles as well. All these characters, even the little kids, come off as exceptionally real and interesting people.
This is one of those movies that reveals itself slowly and stays with you for a long time. It plays on an emotional level that reminds me somewhat of "Under the Sand," the Charlotte Rampling movie about the woman whose husband went for a swim and was never seen again. (Odd, kind of, that both are French movies that star English actresses who've lived most of their adult lives in France.)
Movie Review: Impacting and artful
Summary: 5 Stars
Philippe Claudel is brilliant! His insight into women, relationships, life and love is accurate, artful and rich. I loved the different themes that weave easily through this masterpiece, like confinement and prison; choices and consequences; things we easily miss in life; joy and hope even in grief; the past, the future and the power of the now.
There were a number of poignant one liners that expressed far more than the words themselves, like Michel's, 'Sometimes books have helped me more than people', or Juliette's, 'I wanted to go to prison.'
The close up facial shots and careful symbolism throughout the movie worked wonderfully to make it far more experiential than intellectual. A friend who saw it with me said, 'I don't know what to think or say because I'm feeling so much.' Beautiful leaden windows remind Juliette of more sinister prison bars. A chain spanning the floors of the residence symbolizes prisons at many levels, even at home. Rain falling on a sunlit window symbolize with alluring simplicity life and love beckoning - who can refuse?
I think this is without doubt the most impacting movie I've ever seen. Granted it is slow moving, but the themes it deals with are themselves timeless and slow moving; they are not answerable to a fast paced world.
Movie Review: So deep about the human soul !
Summary: 5 Stars
This is exactly the kind of fine movie we need badly.The relations between the characters, the acceptance and the climax are so emotional. For others reasons, i like the ambiance of "convivialite", form of sweet friendship, alltogether around a table with everybody talking at the same time. You can't describe, you find that only in France.The story with the depressed cop, dealing with his loneliness and dreaming of escaping is so touching. He treats Scott Thomas with much more humanity than her sister's husband at the beginning.
The actors, Zylberstein, Scott Thomas (of course), Hazanavicius and Grevill are so subtle and serve the story with talent.
I hope Philipe claudel with direct other fine movies like this one.Every time i watch it, it feeds my soul.
The French cinema continues to be one the best in the world, and maybe the best since 2008: this movie, Tell No One, The Last Deadly Mission/MR 73 ( The Last Deadly Mission ) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - France ].I'm so feed up with hollywood teenagers movies!