Un Coeur En Hiver on DVD (1992)

Cold heart indeed

RustyT from Dorset , 18/03/2004

Musical culture rears its head yet again in this story of a fiddle player (Emanuelle Beart) and her violin repair craftsman specialist played by Daniel Auteuil.

I find both actors compelling, and support from André Dussolier makes for an absorbing triangle situation in which Auteuil wins on chemistry alone.

This is actually the weakest logical point in the film. If you're shacked up with someone, you don't suddenly announce that you prefer their best friend!

But Beart does, and it causes mayhem!

Since Les Amants, the protagonists in French film have taken to living dangerously, but mostly (mercifully) you don't have the obligatory Hollywood shootout in the last reel.

See what happens when you have a high octane (Beart) star trying to energise and get a rise on an enigmatic loner as played by Daniel Auteuil.

This is what cinema is all about.

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A love triangle without cliches

A customer from Scotland , 16/08/2004

This is the story of a love triangle involving a beautiful violinist and two business partners in a violin manufacture and repair company in Paris. There's some great violin pieces throughout but it's not tedious or too long. Stephane is the one with the cold heart, apparently unable to feel real love. It's not a predictable story and the ending's just right. If you like films in a very French character-driven tradition, you'll like this.

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Adele1907#1 from STOCKPORT , 21/12/2003

This is my all time favourite foreign movie.

It is a subtle and slow film and ultimately an enigma, which some people will find offputting, but if you are interested in human relations and motivation within them you will never find a better film.

It is the movie equilvalent of an onion: you could watch it twenty times (and I have) and always see something different.

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Where is the Heart?

theeggman from West Lothian , 22/12/2004

Effortlessly compelling but slow drama about the man who doesn't know how to love. For those not into character studies, the question will be "so, what happened"?

For those who are, the inability of a man to express himself, and the pain that causes, will enthrall. Beart, whose elfin beauty shames Liv Tyler, is stunning. Auteil, surely one of the great character actors of our time (and what a shame Hollywood passes him by), excels at his vocation but fails miserably as a friend and lover.

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Intense drama about friendship and the various forms of love

Dom from miles away , 08/04/2005

This is a slow, intense drama of sexual etiquette. A very french film with long brooding cigarette blown looks and brief exchanges of dialogue. The suspense comes from waiting to see what the male protagonists are going to do next...

I have to say that Emmanuelle Beart is a bit dull from an acting point of view, however beautiful she is. Even in her angry scenes she is not that convincing, she was somewhat better in Manon de sources, but still think that she relies on her looks a bit too much (Like Isabelle Adjani). Whereas the slightly odd looking Audrey Tautou can look good and act (See He loves me, he loves me not.) I'm rambling now... bye bye

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And 5 stars for the music

Zamy from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 20/04/2005

This film is a complex and fascinating view of human relationships. Stephane and Maxime are partners in a violin business. They may also be friends. Camille is a talented and beautiful up and coming professional violinist and Stephane becomes her violin 'doctor'. She has 'moved in' with Maxime and they appear to be lovers. Camille appears to mistake Stephane's professional ministrations for smouldering passion and declares her passion for him. He rejects her, prompting a showdown with fairly devastating results for all three. There is an interesting sub-plot involving the old violin teacher Lachaume which brings more of the character traits in Stephane to the fore and has an interesting conclusion which I won't reveal. There is an underlying message that time heals and that broken relationships can find a reconciliation. I have used 'appears' a lot because the action raises lots of questions about what are the characters motivations and why do they behave in particular ways. You will find this irritating or fascinating depending on your point of view. The filming is meticulous. The acting impressive and understated. The downside here is that the lead characters come across as a bit stuffy and boring and I didn't care a great deal about what happened to them. What is beyond doubt is the beauty and perfection of the Ravel sonatas and trios that feature in the film: a feast for the ears. I have the feeling that this is a film I will return to and get more from subsequent viewings.

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