221 out of 223 people found the following review helpful:

don't let the title put you off!

A Customer from Northolt, 17th September, 2008

I only went as my sister won tickets to the review, i wasn't keen on going and had no intention of seeing this film as I was expecting a chick-flick, which i find quite dull. However, i was very pleasantly surprised...this film has a lot of emotion running through it, was superbly shot and very touching. I did not recognise Kristin Scott Thomas at first as she looked so drab and worn out, its quite a difficult subject that it takles but does so in a sublte and delicate way. Although it is probably more of a girl film than a boy film, I do think guys would actually quite enjoy it. As with all good subtitled films, after the first ten minutes, you do not realise you are watching a subtitled film! My only negative point is that it was slightly too long (nearly 2hours), but a numb bum was a small price to pay for a superbly directed/acted film which will bring about many discussions. This should certainly win some nominations if not prizes!

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51 out of 52 people found the following review helpful:

Rewarding

Andrews from from London, 20th October, 2008

This is a sensitive, intelligent, and beautifully made family drama. The story, of a 40something woman learning to experience life again with her estranged sister and family many years after she has been emotionaly destroyed by personal tragedy, is expertly told - but there are many stories being told in this film and almost every scene is full of carefully observed, subtle detail. It's one of those films that, if you watch it with other people, you will discuss afterwards and discover they have picked up on things you missed and visa-versa, and this is particularly rewarding. Kristin Scott Thomas has, for me, always been good, but never a 'wow factor' actress - but she's one who seems to be getting steadily better and better with age, and this could turn out to be the performance of her carreer. The camera loves her face, at once haunted and beautiful, and she knows how to communicate much while seeming to do very little. This skill she exploits to the max here, the merest hint of a smile or the flick of an eyebrow being all it takes to tell us all we need to know about her character's state of mind. Such restraint means that when the big emotions do break out - and she can deliver here just as well - they are all the more affecting. I wouldn't be surprised if she wins a bunch of awards for this film, and she deserves to. Not going out of its way to entertain or to make things particularly easy for the audience, this is one to watch when you're in a serious or thoughtful frame of mind - when you're in the mood for a truly grown-up film. You won't be disappointed.

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37 out of 38 people found the following review helpful:

Lovely story-telling

4Tell from , 14th October, 2008

In some respects it could be said not a lot happens in this film. Two sisters meet up again in adulthood after 15 years apart. It soon becomes apparent that the elder sister has been in prison for 15 years for murder. The elder sister struggles to re-establish any kind of life outside, whilst her sister is desperate to re-kindle some form of relationship with her sister. Slowy, some form of normality is created and, as it is, more of the truth of events which led to the imprisonment are revealed. It is a beautiful story of love - love of family, love of children, love of life. That may sound sickly sweet, but it is so far from it. Wonderfully, simply acted as well.

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35 out of 56 people found the following review helpful:

Keep moving... Nothing to see here.....

A Customer from Fulham, 14th October, 2008

Some people will love this film because of it's realistic and sensitive portrayal of a troubled family. Most of these will know in advance that they'll like it because they just like these kind of slow, meaningful foreign dramas. This review is for everyone else. Admittedly I am not the target audience for this film - I took my girlfriend to see it as part of her birthday because she wanted to. Nevertheless I was prepared to be as open minded as possible and, as someone who does enjoy the odd foreign drama (Tell No-one, for example), I hoped for the best. Sadly for me, once you get past the unquestionably fine acting on display you are left with what the official blurb describes as an 'a testament to the power of female love and forgiveness'. If this does not sound like a film you will enjoy, believe me, it won't convince you otherwise. Nothing really happens in a conventional dramatic sense, and you've just got a slow-burn woman-gradually-opens-up-to-estranged-sister story that is, it seemed to me, handled too realistically to be particularly dramatic. Only the need to read the subtitles over the head of the man in front kept me upright in my chair with my eyes open... As cinema-as-reflection-of-life, I'd rate this very highly. As something to enjoy? Two stars for the performances and that's your lot..... Roll on 'Tranformers 2' and Terminator 4!!!

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Brilliant cast

A Customer from Kent, 13th March, 2010

Excellent acting, Scott-Thomas is sublime. The story unfolds slowly and is quite depressing in places but the film is told very well and interesting in way you are left to judge character the director makes no judgements. Beautifully told and cast are brilliant.

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Slow but alluring

ElenaKate from , 10th March, 2010

A slow paced film that is beautifully shot, Kristen Scott Thomas draws you in to her mystery. A good one for a calming mood.

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Wonderful acting and excellent storyline

saldog from , 7th March, 2010

This was a fabulous film with a gripping storyline and very loveable characters. It covered so many issues and made me re-evaluate how judgemental I can be. It looked at many things to get the viewer thinking and captivated me from the start, even the subtitles didn't put me off. Highly recommended although I did shed a tear! Be warned!

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Wonderfully atmospheric!

TinaO from , 5th March, 2010

I loved this film. I can totally understand critics commendations to Kristen Scott Thomas. A typically slower french-paced film, not a glossy Hollywood number, and that is it's charm. The relationship between the sisters grows beautifully, though they haven't seen each other for more than 15 years and the reason for the elder sister's absenteeism keeps you wondering all the way through. It's a subtitled film but that doesn't detract at all from the content (you never know you might understand some of the french if you listen too!) Wonderful film.

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