Review of I've Loved You So Long (2008) by Aaron N — 25 Mar 2009

Juliette and Lea: At the clear fountain / While I was strolling by / I found the water so nice / That I went in to bathe. So long I've been loving you / I will never forget you.

A well acted drama, set in France, about a women coming back into the world and dealing with the choices she made years prior.

Kristin Scott Thomas stars as Juliette, a women who has just been released from a 15 year prison sentence. Juliette has given the chance to live with her sister Lea and her family, which includes her husband, two adopted daughters, and mute father.

We slowly learn why Juliette was in prison. As we do, we follow Juliette's limited path in finding work and forming new relationships. Juliette very much likes to keep her emotions on the inside. None of the people close to her ever question why she has done what she did.

There are only two key relationships that Juliette forms, not including her own sister. One is her parole officer, the other is a colleague of her sisters'. These aspects only further move Juliette along as she adjusts to her freedom.

This movie is quite good. Kristin Scott Thomas has a lot to do with a role that doesn't have a whole lot of dialog to work with, but instead a lot of physical acting involving her facial expressions. The other performances certainly add to the film as well.

The movie certainly takes a few moments to make sure an emphasize the important points and does have numerous depressing aspects, but the story is still very engaging.

Juliette: Nothing mattered anymore. I wanted to go to prison. Either way, I was guilty. I'd given birth to him and condemned him to die. And I had nothing to say. Explain? Explain what? To whom? Explaining is looking for excuses. Death has no excuses. The worst prison is the death of one's child. You never get out of it.