Director: Michael Haneke
Cast: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, Isabelle Huppert
Running Time: 127 mins
Plot: George (Trintignant) and Anne (Riva) are retired music teachers enjoying their twilight years together. Their daughter, Eva (Huppert), is continuing the tradition of teaching music abroad. So, when Anne suffers a stroke that paralyses one side of her body, George must be her sole carer, and their strong bond is faced with the ultimate endurance test.
Trintignant agreed to make only his second on-screen appearance in 16 years, because the lure of Haneke and this project proved too tempting. His decision was the right one, as not only is AMOUR an emotive masterpiece, but Haneke picked up his second Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for the film (his first was in 2009 for WHITE RIBBON).
Haneke instinctively incorporates a minimalist approach, with only one scene in the entire story taking place outside George and Anne’s small apartment. This lends itself to creating a claustrophobic atmosphere, forcing you into their diminishing but incandescent world. Every last modicum of focus is on this elderly couple, who are deteriorating before your very eyes, but are determined to live every moment as fully as they can.
An honest and well-balanced view of the intricacies of love is put forth, with Haneke expertly avoiding the familiar traps of painting a rose-tinted image, or overstating the darker side of existentialism. The positivity in their relationship is clear, but the difficulties George and Anne face when attempting to remain devoted to each other, in the face of overwhelming adversity, are also shown without restriction.
Trintignant and Riva give breathtaking performances, and Huppert is engaging in the supporting role of the helpless daughter, struggling to juggle a busy lifestyle with her sense of duty towards her parents. AMOUR is heartbreaking in its story, acutely focused in its telling, and simultaneously devastating and inspirational in its content.
AMOUR arrives in UK cinemas 16th November and on limited release in the US 19th December.
