Movie Review: Amour (2012)
Written by Anthony Sargon
The word masterpiece gets thrown around too often nowadays. If someone is really enamored with, let's say, "The Hunger Games", he or she may consider it a "masterpiece", which we define as a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship. "Amour", however, is a true masterpiece. It's excruciatingly painful to watch, but it's a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) are an elderly French couple leading a normal life. They're retired music teachers, and they've been married for what the audience assumes is a long time. One morning, Georges notices that Anne isn't responding to him, something that's never happened before. We soon learn that she's suffered a stroke, and after a failed surgery, the right side of her body becomes completely paralyzed. Georges assures her that he's willing to help her, no matter what it takes, but Anne doesn't want that. She doesn't want to go back to the hospital, and she doesn't want to be seen in her current state, not even by her daughter. She feels weak, ashamed, and would hate to drag her husband down with her. After she experiences a second stroke, her condition goes from bad to worse, and the couple's love is tested like never before.
"Amour" is not a fun film to watch. It deals with issues that many of us are afraid to even think about; growing old, severe illness, and death. It feels more real than anything this reviewer has seen in a long time, and if you've ever been around someone with a severe illness or disability, the film will hit very close to home. Director Michael Haneke's unflinching desire to portray old age and loss in a realistic, unfiltered way deserves a lot of respect, and it's great to see that it's been recognized by the Academy with five nominations: one for "Best Picture", "Best Director", Best Foreign Film", "Best Actress", and "Best Original Screenplay".
The performances in the film are exceptional. Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva are very seasoned performers, and they bring depth and sincerity to their characters. Emmanuelle Riva has been nominated for "Best Actress", and this reviewer strongly believes that Jean-Louis Trintignant deserved recognition as well. Isabelle Huppert plays their daughter (Eva), and she also does a great job, but she's not in the film all that much. It's Georges and Anne's story, and their characters are in very capable hands.
If there's one complaint to be made, it's about the dialogue. During the first half of the film, it feels like everyone is acting very cold. The dialogue is stiff, and characters talk to one another as if they're strangers, not friends or family. Maybe it's intentional, but it did make it harder for this reviewer to fully immerse himself in what was happening. It's just a nitpick though, and it won't bother many people.
Anthony's Verdict:
"Amour" is certainly a contradiction; It's extremely difficult to watch, but it's also a very beautiful work of art. It's a masterpiece in every sense of the word, and it will leave you in tears. Chapeau bas.
Numerical Score: 9.5/10
Read the Original post on The Sargon Times
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