Jean, his loving wife and son live a simple, happy life. At his son's homeroom teacher Madamoiselle Chambon's request, he volunteers as substitute teacher and starts to fall for her delicate and elegant charm. His ordinary life between family and work starts to falter.
Cathartic pay-off comes in the largely wordless climax, which packs a blindsiding wallop of emotional conviction.
Bitter-sweet adn elegantly orchestrated.
A subtle and sensual character study.
An old story is enlivened by intelligent performances from Lindon and Kiberlain as the middle aged pair, but the drama is slow-burning to the point of tediousness.
The performances...are extraordinary.
Too much of Stéphane Brizé’s film is elegant water-treading, but there are candid little scenes, and one of those will-they-won’t-they, Brief Encounter denouements that never go out of fashion.
A must-see.
It's a touching, measured, well-observed film that uses music (the teacher is a trained violinist) skilfully.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Friday November 25, 2011, until Sunday November 27, 2011. More info: www.filmhousecinema.com