Review of I've Loved You So Long (2008) by Emmanuel P — 18 Mar 2009

I give you my word that my film review for the French flick "I've Loved You So Long" will not be that long. The underrated Kristin Scott Thomas stars as Juliette Fontaine, a former French prisoner of 15 years who moves in with her younger sister's family after her penitentiary release.

Juliette is in a constant mental struggle to forget the "I've Jailed You So Long" part of her life. Lucky for her she was not French fried and given the electric chair for her alleged unforgivable crime.

Juliette is emotionless, detached, and melancholy. But she does get instant gratification from chatting in cafes and sleeping with mindless men. She does strike a peculiar friendship with her French police probation cop Captain Faure.

Elsa Zylberstein plays Lea, Juliette's little sis. Lea is overjoyed in reuniting with her sister after a long absence. Lea's husband Luc is not auspicious of Juliette's stay, but nevertheless does respect that it's his wife's sister.

Lea and Luc have two young adopted Vietnamese daughters. Juliette strikes a close relationship with the older daughter that initially does not please Luc and causes him to shout "I am Luc, I am Your Father".

OK, enough! Juliette does have a secret that eventually she spills out for film plot conclusion purposes; it is no secret that happens many times in movies. But I must say this one was done with impactful ingenuity.

Kristin Scott Thomas's performance was one that will be loved for so long. Her impassive facial expressions alone is worthy of accolades, not to mention she is a British actress that spoke flawless French.

Elsa Zylberstein was a comparable worthy sister acting act to Thomas's potent work. "I've Loved You So Long" is primarily about a sibling relationship and both actresses carried their roles to sister thespian supremacy.

Writer-Director Phillipe Claudel did well with his orchestration of "I've Loved You So Long"; I especially enjoyed his productive screenplay that authentically expressed each character's fixed personality.

OK, I know! I broke my promise and I have been long with my film review of "I've Loved You So Long". Nevertheless, I will like you for so long if you take a chance on "I've Loved You So Long".

**** Good.