Review of I've Loved You So Long (2008) by Domenico L — 28 Nov 2009

What is it about the French? Their filmmakers have a way of tackling the most emotionally powerful stories in a sensitive and poetic and multi-dimensional way while avoiding easy answers, sloppy drama and any false notes.

Slowly, carefully, Philippe Claudel unravels a remarkable tale about a woman, Juliette, just freed from serving 15 years in jail, trying to re-adjust to life back on the outside. All of this is complicated by her younger sister, Lea's, desire to fully re-establish their relationship as well.

Kristin Scott Thomas is a marvel in the central role. She conveys all the sadness, confusion, hope and devastation her character is feeling and does it all in a sublimely restrained way.

Elsa Zylberstein plays her sister, Lea, who has graciously allows her to stay in her home, with her husband and two children, in order to give her some support as she tries to get back on her feet.

Their dynamic is wonderful to watch. They know each other, yet they don't. Lea wants her sister to open up and share emotionally, yet Juliette is closed off, emotionally numb and dead inside. She confides in others, but not Lea. In doing so, the relationship suffers. Emotional nakedness is meaningless when shared with people who know you least.

And Claudel handles key moments with the lightest of touches. Take a scene, well into the film, where Juliette thanks Lea for everything she has done for her. It's brief, but beautiful. It completely caught me off guard. It takes place in the flow of another scene. By handling it in such an off-handed way, Claudel gives this moment a power and poignancy that it would otherwise not have had.

A beautiful film.