Director: Michael Haneke
Writer: Michael Haneke
Starring: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuealle Riva
An elderly couple, Georges (Trintignant) and Anne (Riva), enjoy music as retired music teachers. One morning over breakfast Anne suffers a stroke and we follow their journey as Anne's health declines and the couple try to cope.
This is undeniably a beautiful piece of cinema. Set predominantly in the couple's home it is also one of the most simple in terms of backdrop. The spectacle is reserved for the haunting performances by Trintignant and Riva. Their portrayal of a very real issue faced by many elderly couples is full of love, pain, sadness and annoyance. It is not a case of a couple saying their last goodbyes and regrets, but rather it's a very true portrayal of two people who have lived out their lives with one another and have those small idiosyncrasies that may annoy each other from time to time.
Haneke has written two of the most complex characters I have ever seen onscreen. They are so realistic that you feel these characters are based on real people and suspension of disbelief is not difficult. You are immersed immediately. It is a heartwarming and heartbreaking piece of cinema that will keep you in your seat for a long time after the credits have finished rolling as you wipe away tears and hold on to your loved ones.
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