Amour was touted to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film long before the Oscars. The French/Austrian submission managed to beat out the sensational French comedy The Intouchables, which still has me scratching my head. Among the five nominees that year were A Royal Affair, the submission from Denmark. My vote would have gone first to The Intouchables. Since that film was not submitted, my vote would have gone to A Royal Affair. Since my vote didn't count, Amour walked away with the win. It is disappointing that the best film of the lot didn't even make into consideration.
Amour presents the portrait of an elderly couple dealing with the effects of aging and stroke. It provides an intimate glimpse into the life of Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) who is left to care for his wife Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) after she suffers consecutive strokes. Georges is a caring man who tenderly deals with events as they come. He is attentive to his wife but eventually requires additional assistance in delivering her care. His interaction with family, staff and his building superintendent provide insight into the world he has created within the walls of his home. Within this cocoon, we observe his struggles and ultimately, his liberation.
Amour was written by Director Michael Haneke. Haneke presents a strong character study that takes a voyeuristic look at a subject people often don't discuss. Aging is a natural process. Disease is a natural process. Our tendency to try and defy these natural forces is an odd earmark of humanity. Amour studies this subject with interesting imagery injected to add symbolic meaning to a process that might otherwise be viewed as brutality. The unexpected climax of the film adds a shocking element to an otherwise sluggishly paced film that lingers too long on the mundane tasks of caring for an ill family member.
The acting was strong enough to earn Riva a nomination for Best Actress. I thought Riva was convincing in her depiction of a stroke victim. But I gauge it against Anthony Hopkins in Legends of the Fall and find it pales in comparison. Riva was certainly solid, but her performance seemed unworthy of an Oscar nomination to me. I felt Trintignant delivered the superior performance in this film, delivering a complex character that had an undeniable humanity. To accept his character, even with his flaws, is a testament to his riveting performance. This, in spite of the sluggish pacing. The casting was exceptional and helped elevate this film from being merely average.
Amour received a PG-13 rating from the MPAA. The rating stems from one violent scene, a smattering of strong language and brief nudity. I would note that geriatric nudity seems to be vogue these days. I think Directors are trying to obtain shock value, especially when the elderly nudity is entirely unnecessary, as it was in Take This Waltz and The Master. At least I can say that Haneke managed to keep the scene contextual. Overall, the subject matter deals with a topic that we generally avoid. Our own mortality. It is a film certain to create discussion with younger viewers, so if you are not inclined to discuss aging and death, this film may not be right for the younger viewers in your home. Based on the relatively mild nature of the thematic material, I would not restrict viewing by age group.
I enjoyed Amour. My biggest complaint was the pacing, which made the already healthy 127 minute runtime seem even longer. The sluggishness did seem tied to the delivery of minutiae that made it fit the mood of the film. But I think Haneke might have been able to shave ten or fifteen minutes from this film without affecting the overall quality. The acting was superb and the characters well developed. This pairing can make any film tolerable to me. Add in an interesting concept and shocking twist and you have a film almost worthy of an Oscar. I still thing The Intouchables was the better film. The video is certain to be streaming free on one of the streaming services. A good time to rent. 8/10.
