I've Loved You so Long

This movie proves that the audience does not need as many dialogues and revelations to be emotionally moved. It is a film where simple visuals and nuanced acting are preferred to express feelings rather than long dialogues.

I've Loved You so Long is a family drama packed with emotion. The film is directed by the first time director Phillippe Claudel and the main character Juliette is acted by the gifted actor Kristin Scot Thomas (The Horse Whisperer, The English Patient) . After Juliette spends fifteen years in prison, she moves in with her younger sister Lea(Elsa Zylberstein) and her family. The family and friends first hesitate but in time welcome Juilette warmly. The movie moves by revealing information on Juliette's heart breaking past and the reasons for her murdering own son. The two sisters try to rebuild their relation but the haunted background of Juiliette is more than an usual obstacle.

The film relies on good acting and a great screenplay that unfolds step by step-very slowly. There are no superficial Hollywood like dialogues, fancy camera moves, the characters don't over act, the women don't have lean muscular bodies and the males don't look like they go to the gym everyday either. Nothing is rushed in this movie but so much is happening. Kristin Scot Thomas's acting is very balanced, the closeups to her face and her expression does it all.

The film works well both in case of story development and as a character study. There are analysis of two women, one is the psychology of a woman who spent her last fifteen years in prison for murdering her own son and the other is the psychology of a sister who deals with guilt towards her sister for not contacting her all that time. Another interesting character in the film is a friend of Lea, a professor of poetry who doesn't judge Juillette for her past. The two form a friendship that looks like the beginning of a love story

The main revelation happens toward the end, and although all the clues are given, it is still shocking. This movie is a must see for drama lovers.

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