To preface my review of Il y a longtemps que je t'aime (I've loved you so long), I must state that I was already a big fan of the beautiful Kristin Scott Thomas, so my expectations were high from the moment I stepped into the theatre. I must also state that she blew every one of those expectations out of the water with an absolutely stunning performance, the type of performance that those of us in the acting world dream about giving someday.
She plays Juliette, a quiet, mysterious, obviously wounded woman who has recently been released from prison. It is such a departure from her usual roles - typically Brits who are either cold, royal, or both - that is is entirely possible to forget that it is Thomas for the duration of the film. From the first shot of her, in which she is sitting alone in an airport terminal, smoking a cigarette, Juliette is captivating.
Juliette is moving into her younger sister Léa's (Elsa Zylberstein) house to stay with her family during her attempts to rejoin society. The pace of the story is slow, but realistically so. The big revelation about why Juliette was in prison is not rushed, not forced, and is given away in bits and pieces, probably the way it would be done if this were truly happening. Interactions between characters is another thing to take note of, as they are so effortlessly natural that I found myself feeling more like a fly on the wall of a real family's house than an audience member watching a fictional film.
Zylberstein deserves a lot of praise for her role as well. It is not easy to play the could-be-stock-character of the "loving mother willing to take good care of her sister and accept her no matter what", and she turns that role on its head and makes it truly her own. Léa and Juliette's relationship is awkwardly caring and as natural as one could hope for.
It is very difficult to talk about this film without revealing anything. Every scene that is especially noteworthy is also one that I would be loathe to give away. There are tender moments throughout, as well as utter shockers that left the audience gasping out loud, clapping hands over mouths and turning to dates with sad eyes. The plot has its minor weaknesses, but the performances are so strong throughout that they make up for them tenfold. Even if this movie is not perfect, it is as satisfying a viewing experience as could be hoped for, and it goes above and beyond what it promised.
To get a small glimpse without having the film spoiled, watch the trailer here.
Final Grade: A+
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