Review of Amour (2012) by Ricardo A — 31 Jan 2013

Georges obviously loves his wife, Anne. However, the film director gives us a mixed-up message regarding their relationship. At the beginning of the film, when the couple is at the kitchen table, Georges sees that the sugar bowl is empty, complains to her and gets upset. Later, after she recuperates from her catatonic episode, he gets irritated with her when she does not understand what he is talking about. Then they start to argue. Days later, when she is very sick and she does not want to drink water and he uses force to put the water in her mouth, she gets angry and spits the water back to him. What he proceeds to do is shocking. Is this the first time, or has he done it before? This couple loves each other in their own particular way. They are not physically affectionate, I don't think they kiss during the whole movie, I could be wrong. They don't have either a loving extended family. He looks for the tenderness he does not have when he caresses the pigeon he trapped.

Georges face expression does not change the whole movie. He has a permanent expression of concern and numbness. He is empty, he is not, in the true sense of the word, alive. He is simply performing the task that has been handed to him.

The title of the movie is "Amour" (Love), however when you leave the movie theater the last feeling you have is a loving feeling. You feel numb, empty, like Georges. It is like he has come out from the screen and swallowed you and you have become part of him. I think that this is an outstanding achievement of the director of the film. To have the ability to put the audience in such a mood. I think a very important aspect of the movie is to make you feel what Georges is feeling. Everything is going slow, you are most of the time in the corner of one room or at the bedside, there is almost not furniture, it is kind of dark.

The movie ends with a big contrast. It seems that you are in a different apartment, big, full of light and fresh air. The camera shots are totally different, showing the apartment as it really is, a very comfortable, nice apartment.

This is just my interpretation of the film. Everyone will have his/her own one.