One Fine Morning

This is the best movie I have seen in the cinema so far this year, followed by 'Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom' and 'Piccolo Corpo'.

The story looks simple, but because of the wonderful acting performances of all, especially of Lea Seydoux (much better in this genre of films than in all her Hollywood period), 'Un beau matin' is - in my opinion - already a timeless classic drama.

It's the kind of film that only European countries can make, and it's even more a typical French film. 'Un beau matin' is a very honest and beautiful movie, not bound by time or space. It's a timeless story.

The movie is especially good because the storyline is disarmedly strong and honest, with restrained emotions.

The film is made even more beautiful and stronger by the many silent moments between the dialogues. There is also not too much talking, which I always like a lot.

The expression on Lea Seydoux's face, who plays Sandra (a widow and mother of one daughter), says a lot more than some emotional tantrum.

And then there is the wonderful music of Schubert and the recurring beautiful music of Jan Johansson. Many thanks to director Mia Hansen-Løve for letting me get to know this Swedish pianist, what a discovery!

In the small hall of the small cinema everyone sat full of admiration and listened to the music till the last letters of the final credits were gone.

This female director, guilty of this terrific little drama, has alreaady commited other ones of this kind. So realistic stories, so close to real life, always pulled by awesome, convincing performances. Lea Seydoux, Pascal Gregory, Melvil Poupaud, Nicole Garcia...A dream team in a cast to tell a so gripping, but also painful story about love, the end of life. It is impossible to stay cold blooded, iced, watching such a story. Impossible not to love such a film. I highly prefer seeing this than a most of crime flicks; and I am a great crime movies lover. But French dramas of this kind, I will never get tired of them. Never.

There are challenges that your life has had presented, large hurdles that have left you less contented, after becoming a young widow, there's just you and a young kiddo, and now your fathers progressively, getting more demented. But those close all lend a hand and give support, as your father's moved around from port to port, an old friend becomes much more, becoming someone you adore, though he's married, and you're not sure if he'll abort.

The perpetually magnifique Léa Seydoux plays Sandra, as she juggles a child, an aging father and a new lover, in a tale that might hit home if you have connections in part or in whole with her plight, but ultimately is a pretty ordinary affair or variation on often encountered themes.

One Fine Morning - Un beau matin (2022) is a romantic drama film written and directed by Mia Hansen-Løve, starring Léa Seydoux, Pascal Greggory, Melvil Poupaud and Nicole Garcia. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022, winning the Europa Cinemas Label Award for Best European Film. It tells the story of Sandra (Seydoux), a widow and translator who cares for her father, Georg (Greggory), a former philosophy teacher with neurodegenerative disease. She meets Clément (Poupaud), a married chemical cosmologist who has returned from a work expedition at the North Pole, and they start an affair.

The film explores the themes of love, loss, memory and mortality through the parallel stories of Sandra and Georg. Sandra is trying to cope with her grief and loneliness while also facing the challenges of finding a suitable nursing home for her father, who is gradually losing his cognitive and sight abilities. Georg struggles to hold on to his identity and dignity as he experiences hallucinations and confusion. He often talks about his girlfriend, Leila, whom he met in Algeria during the war. Clément is a catalyst for Sandra's emotional awakening, as he shows her a different perspective on life and science. He takes her to his lab, where he studies the origin of the universe and the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

The film is shot beautifully by Denis Lenoir, who captures the contrast between the urban and natural landscapes and the changing seasons. The score by Nicolas Godin is subtle and atmospheric, enhancing the film's mood. The acting is superb, especially by Seydoux and Greggory, who convey their characters' complex emotions with nuance and sensitivity. Seydoux portrays Sandra as a strong but vulnerable woman torn between her duty and desire. Greggory delivers a heartbreaking performance as Georg, who is aware of his condition but tries to maintain his sense of humour and curiosity.

The pace could be faster and more varied; some scenes feel unnecessary or repetitive. The dialogue is lacking in naturalism and spontaneity. The relationship between Sandra and Clément is not very convincing or compelling, as they lack chemistry and depth. The film also avoids addressing ethical and moral issues, such as the impact on their respective families.

One Fine Morning - Un beau matin (2022) is a touching and thoughtful film that deals with universal themes realistically and humanly. It is not a typical romantic drama but a meditation on life, death, love, and memory. It is a film that will make you feel both sad and hopeful, as it shows the beauty and fragility of human existence.

I liked this movie because I like Lea Seydoux, like the subdued yet deep acting of French actors and their stories, yet struggled to understand how it ended and what the point was. It felt like I rode a bus and really enjoying the ride, waiting to reach the final destination, only to get there and not remember why I went, to begin with. I struggle, even now, to make it to the requisite 600 words to create a review, because that is the point-- I do not know what else to say. I am by no means dull and have a penchant for watching international movies that are quite gems, but did not see what the whole point at the end was. I did thoroughly enjoy the characters of this movie. Lea is, as always, an outstanding actress.