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HEERE THEN GONE

Today's film was Mia Hansen-Love's

Le père de mes enfants / The Father of My Children (2009)

This is a NYTimes Critics' Choice.

An art film producer (in France) is harried and hurried and down to his last euro and nerve. His wonderful family waits for his return each day and, while there is a great deal of love and energy in the home, he is not there for a lot of it. Two cell phones, a dwindling bank account, a crazy director who is over budget. Little by little we see how little there is left for him in his work.

He will or cannot see the other half of his life, the glass that is half filled. His family.

This is not a spoiler. He kills himself.

Suddenly the beloved wife and three kids must deal with the left over situation.

This is not a weeper. It is very cool, calm and collected. I think that it is very realistic.

Friends step in, life goes on. The company is liquidated and the family finds a new way to go.

Late in the film, after the death, there is a power failure. The family and a friend go outside to "see" in the dark. Other people are there. This segment is totally dark. You only hear the voices.

Then the lights come on, the family goes back into their home. They have a life. The need to move on and do.

A very nice film sweetly acted. A look inside the "business". Very good. I would not mind seeing it again. It will be a 4 out of Netflix5.

Labels: films