There are several things you should know about “Amour” before deciding whether or not to watch it. First of all, it was nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture (and won for Best Foreign Language film). It is French, with English subtitles. And most importantly, it is quite sad and very depressing. Contrary to what you see in the trailer there’s nothing upbeat in this two hour movie about and elderly couple, one of which is dying. If you feel that you can handle this subject matter, than “Amour” is worth seeing. If this situation is too close to you in your real life or might make you uncomfortable I would suggest skipping it.
Director Michael Haneke (who received a surprise Best Director Oscar nomination) makes his intentions
clear right from the first scene. You may think it gives away too much,
but Haneke wants the audience to know that “Amour” (which, of course,
means “Love”), is not a mystery, but a journey towards a conclusion that we know is coming.
Jean-Louis Trintignant and Oscar nominee Emmanuelle Riva play Georges and Anne, an older married couple who were both music teachers in their prime. Now retired, they live in an apartment in Paris. They seem quite content and happy. We see them attend a concert for one of their former students who has now become a star pianist. One day, while the two are talking, Anne suddenly blacks-out and can’t respond to Georges. As Georges tries to help her, Anne goes back to normal, but has no idea what just happened.
Anne undergoes treatment for the blackouts and there are complications. She suffers a stroke and becomes paralyzed on her right side, forcing her to be in a wheelchair. Georges assists his wife in getting around the apartment and doing daily activities. But her condition soon worsens, and the rest of the film focuses on, not only the relationship between the married couple, but specifically Georges’ dedication to his ailing wife.
“Amour” is clearly a foreign film in more ways than simply the language. The majority of the scenes are longer than they should be and the overall pace is very slow. No American director or studio, dealing with this same subject, would have made this film. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but with a story that doesn’t have much excitement, a little editing would have helped. However, there are a few surprises that genuinely work, catching you off-guard. Haneke likes to hold on a single shot for an extended period of time, but he also makes some smart decisions, and overall does a nice job directing a film that takes place almost entirely inside this apartment.
Riva has the showcase role here. Some of her scenes are heartbreaking and difficult to watch. She definitely deserved her nomination, and her new status as the oldest Best Actress nominee (85) in Oscar history. But for me, Trintignant’s performance is even more impressive. He’s in nearly every scene: we feel for him, admire him, and suffer with him.
What makes “Amour” work is this strong emotional aspect. These two people clearly love each other, through the good and the bad. The final half-hour is revealing and leaves a lasting impression.
I certainly didn’t dislike “Amour”. It’s a simple story, but one not often seen on screen. The performances by the two leads are outstanding and it’s impossible not to be affected by it. However, there’s nothing about the film that’s “extraordinary”. Several of this past year’s Best Picture nominees: “Argo”, “Silver Linings
Playbook”, “Lincoln” and “Les Miserables” all had “wow” moments and
unforgettable scenes that simply couldn’t be duplicated. “Amour” never affected me that way.
There’s just not enough depth or dramatic conflict to call this a great movie. And the fact that it’s so depressing makes it difficult to love.
On The Official LCJ Report Card, “Amour” gets a B.