La Separation Reviews

Haunting film and beautifully acted

Don't expect a strong storyline, twists gimmicks or happy endings. Just sit back and enjoy the performances of two of best actors in world cinema today. The film portrays a marriage which crumbles apart before our eyes when the wife, Anne (Isabelle Huppert), announces she has fallen in love with another man. We don't meet the 'other man' nor do we see the nature of their 'affair' - but we do see the impact it has on the marriage and in particular on the husband, Pierre (Danile Auteuil,)who experiences slowly building feelings of jealousy and rage. An intense and haunting film which gives the viewer little respite from the feelings of anger and resentment between husband and wife. It pulls few emotional punches and is focused almost entirely on interior scenes between Anne and Pierre in their apartment. Isabelle Huppert dominates the film (as usual) and manages to portray Anne as a woman who is hardened and unfeeling but also capable of remorse and tenderness. The biggest surprise for me was Daniel Auteuil who often does not seem strong enough to be a leading man but in this film he captures perfectly the mixed emotions of a husband trying to keep his family together but who is also fighting the building feelings of rage within him. It reminded me of Bergman's 'Scenes from a Marriage' - which is high praise indeed. Highly recommended for those who love great acting.

Best in French cinema ...

To me this film represents all that is best in modern French cinema. A simple story of the collapse of a relationship, mature, brilliantly acted by Isabelle Huppert (Anne) and Daniel Auteuil (Pierre) and finely crafted. The story follows the relationship before and after Anne announces that she loves another man. We never see him in the film and the question is left open as to whether he really exists or is a device to force Pierre to reconsider their relationship. Pierre's anger takes over and in the end he runs away from the opportunity Anne offers to start again. The last scene in which Pierre is 'lost' physically on the streets of Paris and emotionally ends the film brilliantly. Hollywood - watch this and weep, you will never do better.

Customer Review

As a fan of Daniel Auteuil, I was not disappointed with this film. It is a sad story about two people who love each other, but are not able to hear and understand each other, and cannot express their love. Inability to be attentive to feelings, thoughts and worries of the partner leads to ugly scenes which not reveal the real personality, but rather mislead about it.

It is a fine and deep psychological research. I gave to this film four stars because I compare it with 'Veuve de Saint Pierre' and 'Le Gout des Autres' which are absolutely brilliant. But it is a very fine film without any comparisons.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Recommended

Fine French drama, superb acting, subtle script - all as expected, my only slight disapppointment is that the story did not somehow evolved. Here we have two intelligent people who evidently love each other, but are not able to hear and understand one another, and cannot express their love. But then they are just a bit too civilized about the whole thing which makes even ugly scenes a bit misleading. The story line goes a bit too promptly and casually from initial irritation Anne with Pierre to divorce, almost like marriage's disintegration has already hapenned behind the scenes and the viewers are given short cut version. But perhaps that was the idea: 'It's nothing specific. Just a lot of little things.'

As one character says, 'With a couple, one suffers and the other one's bored, and vice versa.'

La Separation - slow but sure

If you've suffered from the slow breakdown of a relationship you will certainly empathise with this film so it's not a comfortable watch. Done touchingly and sometimes cruelly, Christian Vincent tracks the gradual disintegration of Auteuil and Huppert's relationship. The principal activity is centred around the couple and their behaviour from when Huppert announces she has met someone else. The 'other man' is not seen, we are simply exposed to the shock, denial, rage and disgust they pitch at each other, the jealousy and possessiveness, and the utterly wretched emotion when Auteuil realises he may see little of their young child if they split. Huppert could be seen as selfish and callous but perhaps her actions are those of a woman simply seeking more recognition and attention in the relationship. Ultimately, although seen as losing the game, Auteuil's strength resists Huppert's weak attempts to lure him back into the home. He walks away, desperate and damaged but it is his first act of power in the movie. It ends, as many French movies do, unexpectedly, leaving viewer to drawn their own conclusions about how the drama was resolved. It's long, it's tense and restrained, and contains striking performances from the two major players. A harsh but credible movie and even more so as I said, if you've been there...

Less is more

Simply stunning performances from Auteuil & Huppert. Beautifully observed study of a failing relationship, centred around an 18 mth old child. The kind of sensitive, gentle & understated film that would never come out of Hollywood. I have only awarded 5 stars to 1 other, of the 30 or so films, I have rented in the past 9mths (Pan's Labyrinth).