We know it's all doomed from the start (this is France we're talking about!), but the story springs to life in Binoche's eyes and Magimel's sheer physicality. Their relationship is so believable that it's almost scary--and it's set beautifully into the time and place, as the action shifts from (post-revolution) Paris to (Austrian-occupied) Venice and back, probing the literary subcultures and strained society. The art direction and costumes are gorgeous and finely detailed, and Kurys' direction is clever and insightful. Even so, it feels very, very long (and the UK release version is a half-hour shorter than the one that played elsewhere!) as these two get together, fall out, find each other again, have a massive knock-down fight, take up with others, and so on. Still, we can actually feel that this is a love for the ages, and that's a rare thing indeed in cinema!

adult themes and situations, language, violence, drugs

3.Apr.01

R E A D E R   R E V I E W S

Samchie, net: "This movie is so friggin good! It's an intense love story that leaves you shaking. It seems almost unrealistic and seems to linger on pointlessly but that is only to psycho critics who are looking at the overall script and lighting directions blah blah things like that. the movie is beautifully made and the actors are amazing in it! movies dont have to just have one conflict and then the resolution. thats why the critics hate this movie cuz it doesnt fit the norm of most love stories. The movie is like this because its a true story between two early 19th century poets (alfred and george) in a relationship (especially one that goes on for years and isnt supposed to exsist in the first place). there are many problems and by showing the conflicts they go through makes it all the more tragic. truly a good movie!" (9.Jun.04)