I’ve Loved You So Long is the brilliant and at times unsettling portrayal of a woman who struggles to reenter society after spending the last fifteen years in prison.
Kristin Scott Thomas stars as Juliette Fontaine in a story written and directed by Philippe Claudel. After a fifteen-year prison sentence, Juliette is reunited with her estranged sister Lea (Elsa Zylberstein). The two embark on a journey of self-discovery and mystery as we unravel the story behind their separation and Juliette’s inevitable imprisonment.
Kristin Scott Thomas delivers a captivating performance that exceeds the boundaries of modern acting. Every moment with Juliette will fill you with a sense of inner-pain as you take on Lea’s desire to penetrate Juliette’s emotional barriers. Scott Thomas and Zylberstein have a remarkable chemistry that can only be classified as honest and real.
I’ve Loved You So Long is more than an endearing tale about struggle. It is a story of sacrifice, mystery and overwhelming inner-sorrow. American viewers will develop a true appreciation for foreign cinema through the native French language used in this film. The anguish written on Thomas’ face is so authentic that words only diminish from the emotional turmoil she feels as Juliette.
I found the end of I’ve Loved You So Long to be extremely powerful. Without giving away the ending, this film differs from American cinema by not forcing the clear-cut all-conflicts-resolved ending. I recommend this movie for anyone looking for a profound story, that is not diluted by the Hollywood glitz.
I’ve Loved You So Long was an official selection at the 2008 Toronto and Berlin (where it won two awards) International Film Festivals.
Blu-Ray Bonus Features Include:
Deleted Scenes with optional Director’s Commentary – For the first time watching the deleted scenes with commentary makes sense. Instead of just watching scenes that were taken out, Philippe Claudel explains his choices for deleted scenes. You’ll see how much the story and characters would have changed had the scenes been allowed to stay in the film. There is also an alternate ending to the movie. The story as scripted actually had a different ending, but production commented on the scene during filming, and Claudel opted to rewrite the end during production. The resulting ending makes a profoundly stronger impact.
Includes English Version featuring the voice of Kristin Scott Thomas. I’d actually advise against watching this. The story is so poignant in its French language that to watch it in English is to severely take away from the overall emotion of the piece.
Title: : I’ve Loved You So Long (Il y a longtemps que je t’aime)Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstein
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Release Date: March 3, 2009
Rating: 9 / 10
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