The title is an apt description, for the movie is the love story of a cultivated and sophisticated man and woman, both music teachers, who have been married for many years and now have grown old together. We briefly see their pleasant lives before, Anne (Emmanuelle Riva), the wife, suffers a stroke. Even in the scenes before the tragedy, we sense with foreboding that what follows will not be pleasant for either Anne or her husband Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant.
The writer and director, Michael Haneke, unflinchingly and without sentimentality, depicts the reality of life for the caregiver and the cared-for after disabling tragedy strikes. Haneke does not fear scenes of lingering silence, nor does he scorn blackouts, which go on longer than the viewer expects. Except for the scenes at the beginning, the movie is filmed entirely within the couple's apartment. The setting does not feel unreasonably constrained, for Anne and Georges live their lives within the constricted space, except for brief ventures out which are mentioned but not shown.
Riva and Trintignant are brilliant in their roles. Often without words, we read in their faces their intense love for each other, the severe tests of the strength of that love, and their shared humiliations. The actors, both in their 80s, have not lost the golden touch.
Their daughter, Eva, (Isabelle Huppert) cares about her parents, but she faces challenges in her own life and, though somewhat perplexed, she seems to understand and perhaps envy her parents' devotion to each other - that devotion which effectively excludes intimacy with anyone else, even their own daughter.
The movie is brilliant in its every aspect, but it hit at least this one viewer with a hard emotional punch that I would not want to repeat every day.
Thanks, Mimi. I'll add this to my list of things to see.
ReplyDeleteI've another list, along similar lines to what you describe: "Fine Films Seen Once But That Was Enough." Spielberg ranks two on this list (Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List -- both brilliant but so emotionally moving I don't think I could bear to watch them again!). I wonder how many others have such a category?
I so agree about Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List. I wouldn't have wanted to miss them, but once was enough. I have missed brilliant movies because I thought I could not bear to watch them. I can't name the films now, but if I looked at a list of the greats, I could point them out.
DeleteOf course there are also films seen once that I never want to see again for other reasons... ;-)
ReplyDeleteBad, just plain bad?
DeleteI've got another "Thanks and No Thanks" movie for you (that I'd be especially interested in your take on): "12 Years a Slave" (filmed in your state. I saw it last weekend. I *knew* it would be brutal, but still... )
ReplyDeleteJCF, I've already decided to take a pass on "12 Years a Slave." Grandpère wants to see it, but I won't be with him.
DeleteThere are some movies one sees, not because one wants to, but because one has to (JCF is a Yank, but has plenty of Southern roots---my blood ain't innocent here)
DeleteJCF, true, but I still get to decide what I can bear and what I can't bear. My decision has nothing to do with believing my blood is innocent.
DeleteI totally agree with your reactions to this movie. Very painful and difficult, yet such a loving and realistic portrayal. Often I wanted to turn away because I thought I was intruding on something much too intimate and personal.
ReplyDeleteStill, when I described the movie to my partner, I did request/insist that she do the same for me. Probably much earlier. Like the title suggested, it is what love does.
8th day, I hope I would not ask my husband for a promise to care for me at home in every circumstance, even if it became extremely difficult or impossible for him. I won't say more about the ending, because I don't want the post and comments to be spoilers. I want as many as possible to see this superb film.
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