Why we picked it – Classic French story telling. Show not tell.

Synopsis – Michelle has a complex past  but is now retired. Her daughter visits for lunch with Michelle’s beloved grandson, Lucas. The plan is for Lucas to stay with Michelle for the holidays, but a culinary mistake ruins everything and her ungrateful daughter takes him back to Paris. Michelle’s best friend is Marie-Claude and her bad-boy son is released from prison. We are never told why he was there. Michelle decides to help him get back on his feet: first with gardening work and then opening a bar. Will he help Michelle get her grandson back?

The film– Subtle story telling with much held back or even not said at all. The significance of the opening sequence does not become clear until later in the film, but it tells you what’s coming: chic, elder lady attends church when the story of Mary Magdalene is read. Er, can you guess…? François Ozon is a master filmmaker. Worthy of Simenon. Here is a Q&A with Ozon and the film’s 81 year old star, Hélène Vincent. It takes a while as Vincent does not speak English and there are translation delays, but it is worth it.

 Links: imdb Guardian review La Presse review

Director: François Ozon, Writers: François Ozon and Phillippe Piazzo, Cinematography: Jérôme Alméras