La femme et le TGV

Audiences may find it difficult not to fall for the cheesiness (an entire mini refrigerator full!) in this moving, character driven tale based on a true story. Birkin does not disappoint in her performance as an elderly woman desperately holding on to her past ; a bitter woman who tries to run a bakery but most of her heart is dedicated to her daily waving of a flag at a passing train (France's "high speed train")- it is a tradition she once performed with her son and has continued on her own ever since he moved away. It is the sweet potential of a romance in her older age that finally forces her to step outside the limited box her brain has trapped her in all these years.

This is not a love story. Not in the way one would expect. It is a testimony to letting go and always evolving in life.

"P. S. I am about to send my first internet."

Stay for the short after credits scene showing audience members the aforementioned true life individuals this story is inspired by! Only a few seconds, but the heartwarming emotions it evokes are worth the wait.

This film is a strange little comedy about a very odd Swiss woman (ably played by British actress Jane Birkin). Every morning, like clockwork, she arises from bed at 6:05am in order to wave at the train speeding past her house. And, in the evenings, she does the same…each time waving her Swiss flag madly at the passing train! Apart from this odd ritual, she is a grouchy and rather miserable woman. However, her mundane and antisocial demeanor begins to change when someone from the train begins sending her fan mail— thanking her for the years she's spent greeting the train! She, in turn, begins writing back to this unknown admirer! What's next?

Just see this one, as I don't want to spoil the suspense. This film is just fun….something that can't really be said about most of the nominees this year. In fact, so many of the films left the audience feeling a bit depressed that La Femme et la TGU has a strong chance of winning, though I'd still bet on Enemies Within.

This will be a short review for a short film that unfortunately feels longer than it actually is.

After a fairly effective beginning, the story immediately begins to tread water. It's repetitive, undramatic and predictable. As for the actors: Jane Birkin regularly appears unsure of what emotion to express, her face saying more about her age than about her characters struggle. Lucien Guignard seems to channel John Travolta's Danny from Grease, which, while amusing, quickly gets stale (which says a lot, considering the the entire film is only thirty minutes long).

Ultimately the film feels like the hundredth iteration of the stereotypical drama about the lonely, sentimental older lady.

This story is a true story, so this brings a special emotion level when watching. In the audience there was a woman telling; "hey, it happened exactly the same to me! "

So without spoiler alert I can say: what a romantic and funny story can occur when you live in a place like the protagonists live: close to a railway track.

Yes, feel invited to watch that short movie; the actress is really touching our feelings and its poetic and beautiful.

Heartwarming short story of this lady who is full of life. Great concept and beautiful photography I must say. It's engaging, fun and really well made. Just finished watching on Amazon Prime.