Review of I've Loved You So Long (2008) by Mike E — 09 Mar 2009

I may have over-anticipated this one ("Kristin Scott Thomas acting in French!") and felt let down. The film purports to be a character study, but it really works like a mystery, releasing little facts about the protagonist one at a time through the course of the action.

We slowly learn what the facts are about her, but it doesn't seem like we learn much about her depths. Claudel apparently thinks it is revelatory to offer long shots of Thomas staring out a window, lying on her side in bed, sitting on a park bench, etc.

In the end, when we learn all the facts, she seems just another person dropped into a difficult situation and trying to do what's right. For that the film contrives a happy ending for her. I thought it didn't live up to its reviews.