Review of I've Loved You So Long (2008) by John T — 14 Feb 2009

You could be forgiven for thinking when reading about the Academy awards , The Golden globes and the BAFTAS that there are only a couple of films that have been any good over the last 12 months. Not True.

There is one category that produces some fantastic films and most of which are better than the ones that are in the best picture Category but sadly , are mostly ignored by the American movie going public and that is " Best Foreign Language Film" .Amazingly not only has "I've loved you so long" been largely ignored by the American public ( or perhaps that's the fault of the multiplexes?) it's also been shunned by the academy this year , yet it was nominated for a Golden Globe and won at the BAFTAS this week.

It has also won awards in France and Germany.

Juliette (Kristen Scott Thomas) has been estranged from her family for 15 years. Although life once violently separated them, Léa (Elsa Zylberstein),her younger sister, takes her into her home which she shares with her husband Luc, his father, and their little girls.

"I've Loved You So Long" is a film about the strength of women, their capacity to shine forth, reconstruct themselves and be reborn. A story about our secrets, about confinement, about the isolation we all share.

This film is Certainly one that it extremely emotive and thought provoking yet without giving the plot away it's quite difficult to tell you why.

Kristen Scott Thomas puts in a stunning performance as Juliette , a woman who is looked down upon by nearly everyone who knows her history.

It's only her sister who can forgive her and a couple of men like her for who she is but not what she has done.

Yet what has happened in the past is not all it seems.........

If you love movies then forget the fact that is subtitled ( it's sad I even have to say that) and just sit back and appreciate some fantastic acting and a riveting story.

There is one scene in particular which makes you freeze in your seat and that is when she is being interviewed by a prospective employer. When he aggressively delves deeper into why she has been away for 15 years we found out exactly why she is a tortured soul.

Yes it's dark , yes it has a depressing subject matter but you will be all the better off for watching " I've loved you so long". Trust me.

8 out of 10.