By Matt Brunson
I’VE LOVED YOU SO LONG
DIRECTED BY Philippe Claudel
STARS Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstein
Don’t let the Harlequin Romance title fool you: The French import I’ve Loved You So Long is a potent drama that steers clear of undue sentimentality and forced bathos, relying almost exclusively on two strong central performances to stir up audience awareness and emotion. Kristin Scott Thomas plays a former doctor who’s just been released from prison after serving a lengthy sentence for murder. She moves in with her younger sister (Elsa Zylberstein) and her family, and immediately sets about trying to find a job. But no one feels comfortable around her — more so after they learn the shocking nature of her crime — and she finds life on the outside a struggle. Still, its harshness is nothing compared to her inner turmoil, and it might be up to her sibling to save her from herself. Both actresses are remarkable in a thoughtful film that’s ultimately about the necessity of coming to peace with oneself.
This article appears in Feb 10-17, 2009.
