Review of A Very Long Engagement (2004) by Sylvia Q — 18 Oct 2009
It is indeed an exhaustively long movie engaging the audience to find out whether the heroin's fiance is still alive after WWWI. Too many repetitive war scenes (although they look more artfully realistic than those in "Atonement"), too many confusing characters.
The war scene appears to me a desperate effort to aggrandize the film to a war epic but it certainly does not hold such depth in comparison to "The English Patient". I couldn't help but to fast-forward it at times to get over its slow pace.
The film would probably do better if it was condensed into a length less than 2 hours. Notwithstanding that, it is overall a visually delightful art film that re-enacts the signature artistry of "Amelie".
It mostly retains its unique way of French humour. I do fancy the nostalgic scenes of their blossoming love affair. Most reviews I read so far seem to adore the film to bits. Perhaps my aversion to war scenes does not do justice to the film.
This review of A Very Long Engagement (2004) was written by Sylvia Q on 18 Oct 2009.
A Very Long Engagement has generally received very positive reviews.
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