Review: Il y a Longtemps Que Je T’aime (I’ve Loved You So Long)
Tuesday, 17th February 2009
I have to be honest. I love listening to French so much that there are relatively few French films that I would banish to the back of the cupboard after a single viewing.
‘Il y a longtemps que je t’aime’ however, is a film which should remain firmly at the top of the pile, not only when it comes to French films, but films in general.
The fact that it won a BAFTA for ‘best film not in the English language’, and has been nominated for scores of other awards, including a Golden Globe, a British Independent Film Award and a Critics Choice Award suggests that I’m not alone in my estimation…
In the lead role is Kristin Scott Thomas, the British-born actress whose flawless French provides a superb advert for how living in a foreign country will make you proficient. She has lived in France since the age of 19.
The film itself - I’ve Loved You So Long in English - follows the story of two sisters, who, after fifteen years apart are reunited. The reason for the separation, we learn as the film goes on, is that Juliette, the older sibling (Scott Thomas), has been in prison for 15 years.
Although her former incarceration has a profound result on her acceptance into society, this is not the case when it comes to her welcome re-entry into the life of her loyal younger sister and respective family.
Although divulging the ins and outs of the crime of which she was found guilty would ruin the film for any prospective viewers, suffice to say all is not as it initially seems.
The crime in its entirety is not actually revealed until the very end of the film, and it’s this purposeful positioning which makes the film what it is.
It’s a fascinating look into family relationships, social stigmas and dealing with the past…
Tags: english, french, france, language, film
