Chattanooga Pulse

Written by Janis Hashe
Wednesday, 25 February 2009 20:05

Many people expected the fine actress Kristin Scott Thomas to pick up an Oscar nom for her performance in this week’s AEC Independent Film Series pick, I’ve Loved You So Long. Even though Scott Thomas was overlooked, Chattanooga film-lovers should not overlook this directorial debut from Philippe Claudel.

As the film’s synopsis explains: “Léa (Elsa Zylberstein) and Juliette (Scott Thomas) are sisters. The film begins with Léa, the younger sister by 15 years, picking Juliette up at the airport. We soon realize that the two sisters are almost complete strangers to each other. Juliette has just been released from prison after serving a long sentence. Léa was still a teenager when Juliette, a doctor, was convicted of the murder of her 6-year-old son. Léa contacted Juliette when she was released and suggested that Juliette come to live with her.

“Luc (Serge Hazanavicius), Léa’s husband, is reserved, almost hostile, about Juliette’s presence under their roof. Luc and Léa have two adopted Vietnamese daughters, who are 8 and 3 years old. Luc’s father, Papy Paul (Jean-Claude Arnaud) also lives in the house. He’s a charming old man who spends all of his time reading since a stroke deprived him of the power of speech.

“Life together isn’t easy to begin with. Juliette has to relearn certain basics and she is also rejected by others, particularly employers who throw her out as soon as they find out what she did.