The film deals with death, but not in a morbid way. One of the queerest scenes involved Abel (Jean-Paul Roussillon), Junon Vuillard's (Catherine Deneuve) husband, and Claude (Hippolyte Girardot), working the statistical chances of survival and the time left if Junon chose to have or not have a bone marrow transplant for her cancer. This is not something I could ever imagine happening anywhere else.
Junon was so cool about the whole thing that you never really thought about the fact that she was dying.
The entire family, sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, girlfriends, and others arrive at the family house to celebrate Christmas, each with their own funny and not-so-funny issues.
The main issue working throughout the entire film is between brother and sister, Henri (Mathieu Amalric) and Elizabeth (Anne Consigny). Both actors were brilliant, and I am still not totally sure of the issues.
There were other issues going on, and they are way too numerous to mention. The film deals with family and repentance, and forgiveness, among other issues.
Arnaud Desplechin works like no other director I have seen and, while it may be distracting at times, it is never boring. The two and a half hours fly by.
The children's Christmas play was hilarious, and dealt with the same themes.
This was definitely one of the best films of 2008.
Junon was so cool about the whole thing that you never really thought about the fact that she was dying.
The entire family, sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, girlfriends, and others arrive at the family house to celebrate Christmas, each with their own funny and not-so-funny issues.
The main issue working throughout the entire film is between brother and sister, Henri (Mathieu Amalric) and Elizabeth (Anne Consigny). Both actors were brilliant, and I am still not totally sure of the issues.
There were other issues going on, and they are way too numerous to mention. The film deals with family and repentance, and forgiveness, among other issues.
Arnaud Desplechin works like no other director I have seen and, while it may be distracting at times, it is never boring. The two and a half hours fly by.
The children's Christmas play was hilarious, and dealt with the same themes.
This was definitely one of the best films of 2008.