This is a great movie. One that makes you think a lot about yourself and human relationships in general. Most important : This is not a case of "STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE", it's not vague nor clouded. Messages are crystal clear as long as you pay attention, you don't have to be a philosopher or an intellectual to understand what this is about. This is Art for the people not for a specific audience.
However, i can't rate it higher because this second hour exhausted me. It's a four hour movie and the flow was very good, regarding its running time. But the second hour is too tiring. Viewer watches Michel Piccoli drawing and it's like forever. I admit i fast forward a lot. I realise that maybe all of this was necessary in order to show the whole process. Viewer should watch it because it is important to understand Piccoli's thoughts, inner conflicts and his creative process. I get it. But it was still unbearable to watch.
I also must admit that i didn't like Birkin's acting. I am not saying it was bad acting, maybe it's her character i disliked, i am not sure. But her presence seemed fake and unnatural to me. I couldn't stand her mannerism.
In any case, the second half of this movie was great. A patient viewer will be rewarded as long as he won't give up during the second hour. It is not a masterpiece neither a mind blowing movie. 4 hours is a big investment for a movie that is not a masterpiece. Still, i am glad i watched it. For me, it was worth it. This movie could play in a cliche way. It didn't. Piccoli and Beart relationship was too original, this doesn't go into places you may expect. At its core, there is a lot of sadness and cynicism. But this plays too brilliant to be miserable and overdramatic.
However, i can't rate it higher because this second hour exhausted me. It's a four hour movie and the flow was very good, regarding its running time. But the second hour is too tiring. Viewer watches Michel Piccoli drawing and it's like forever. I admit i fast forward a lot. I realise that maybe all of this was necessary in order to show the whole process. Viewer should watch it because it is important to understand Piccoli's thoughts, inner conflicts and his creative process. I get it. But it was still unbearable to watch.
I also must admit that i didn't like Birkin's acting. I am not saying it was bad acting, maybe it's her character i disliked, i am not sure. But her presence seemed fake and unnatural to me. I couldn't stand her mannerism.
In any case, the second half of this movie was great. A patient viewer will be rewarded as long as he won't give up during the second hour. It is not a masterpiece neither a mind blowing movie. 4 hours is a big investment for a movie that is not a masterpiece. Still, i am glad i watched it. For me, it was worth it. This movie could play in a cliche way. It didn't. Piccoli and Beart relationship was too original, this doesn't go into places you may expect. At its core, there is a lot of sadness and cynicism. But this plays too brilliant to be miserable and overdramatic.