This is one of those films that allows you to
clearly comprehend the difference between 'film
as art' and 'movies as entertainment'. You will
not see a more poetic or aesthetically beautiful
film from 2004. Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Audrey
Tautou match the artistry and emotion of their
2001 classic, "Amelie".
Angelo
Badalamenti's haunting score accentuates the
heartache in this lovely film from the duo who
brought us "Amelie". In "A Very Long Engagement"
(Un Long Dimanche de Fiancailles), Jean-Pierre
Jeunet directs the sublime Audrey Tautou along
another magical search for love. The story will
remind many of last year's acclaimed "Cold
Mountain". In both films, a woman sends her man
off to war with seemingly insurmountable odds
that he will ever return alive. However, in this
film, the woman does not sit waiting and hoping.
In this film, Audrey Tautou's character,
Mathilde, relentlessly searches for clues and
stories that will help her realize the ultimate
fate befallen her loved one.
In a strange way, this film is as much a
detective story as it is a love story with our
heroine, Mathilde, piecing together letters and
photos, hearsay and innuendo. After hearing that
her fiancé, Manech, has been court-martialed for
self-mutilation, a common practice in World War
1, she refuses to believe that he has been
executed. Her family, her friends and those who
were among the last to see Manech alive are all
convinced of his demise. But Mathilde refuses to
give up hope as she clings to every shred of
evidence.
The film is delightful in ways reminiscent of
"Amelie". It revels in the same details and
quirky mannerisms of that lovely film, which I
championed as the best film of 2001. We learn
about the characters in much the same ways,
finding out the little things that shape their
lives and personalities.
The music, although more somber because of the
subject matter, is as energetic and beautiful as
the music heard in "Amelie". It almost becomes a
character in and of itself.
The set and costume design is legendarily
stunning. I doubt you will see a more gorgeous
film all year... many a year for that matter.
Every single frame of this film is breathtaking
and could be hung in an art gallery. The
saturated colors and hues of home life are
juxtaposed with the muddy gray/brown trenches of
WW1. Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet teams up with
Cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel yet again and
this second collaboration sets them apart as one
of the best cinematic duos of our time. They
have a distinctive look and feel to their films
which is singularly memorable.
Audrey Tautou headlines a delightful cast, many
of whom are recognizable from the eclectic group
found in Montmatre. Tautou has a face for the
ages. The silver screen only gets a handful of
such faces every generation. Bergman, Lamarr,
Hayworth, Kelly, Tierney, Deneuve, Hepburn,
Taylor and a few from the current crop of
beauties are among the crowd to which Tautou now
belongs.
She is not just a pretty face. She is a great
actress with a masterful ability to convey
subtlety, sadness, loneliness and wistfulness.
There is such poignancy in her quiet moments
where she trusts that the camera will pick up on
her thoughts. More happens within a moment of
her stillness than in a dozen Summer action
blockbusters.
The supporting cast is terrific here. The most
notable performance is from Marion Cotillard, a
future star in Hollywood. If there is one minor
flaw in casting, I found it to be with Gaspard
Ulliel as Manech. He is too fragile, too gentle
and too effeminate for this role. I wish a man
had been handed this role instead of a boy. I
understand that the couple is supposed to be
young and innocent... but they went a tad
overboard with Ulliel's casting.
But with so little to pick at, I find this film
to be a masterpiece. It isn't quite on a par
with 2001's "Amelie", but it ventures mighty
close and deserves praise come Oscar time as one
of the best foreign language films of the year.
It actually deserves more recognition than that,
but the academy will be hard pressed to include
it in the Best Picture category. They have far
too many mainstream studios to please for this
little gem to be considered.
2004 has been a delightful year, with many films
finding my "A" range so far. And, undoubtedly, I
will be adding to that list as I catch up on
some of the films that passed me by throughout
the year. "A Very Long Engagement" will almost
assuredly make my Top 10 for 2004. It is a
sweeping romantic adventure with haunting music,
unforgettable cinematography, and a cast that
lights up the screen. With this film and
"Amelie", Jean-Pierre Jeunet has found the style
he will be remembered for. I will be first in
line to see his next collaboration with the
lovely Mademoiselle Tautou.
©
Written by TC Candler
Richard
Propes' Comment
Tautou should be rewarded with an Oscar
nomination, and I will be stunned if this film
does not garner minimally a "Best Foreign Film"
Oscar nomination. It is, most definitely, among
the finest releases of 2004.
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
