La vie d'une autre

A story lifted away from reality just a little, so the focus on simple and important bits of life and love get a context. You could tell the story shortly and bluntly, but the film turns this to an advantage. The actors don't need to rush behind the plot but have the opportunity to explore the humour, the oddity and the sorrow of not knowing what you did in your last fifteen years, and of recognizing whatever it was made you different from what you wanted to be. Binoche and Kassowitz make Marie's and Paul's emotions, confusions and efforts vivid and real. Add nice photography, decent play in the minor roles, avoid trivial pretentions of solutions - you get a film that's fun, interesting and has depth that you can opt for but are not forced into. 97 minutes well spent.