Both epic and intimate,A Very Long Engagementreunites Audrey Tautou and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the star and director of the hugely popularAmelie. A young woman named Mathilde (Tautou,Happenstance)separated from her lover by World War I refuses to believe he's been killed and launches an investigation into his fate--an investigation that spins in all directions, creating dozens of miniature stories (including that of an Italian prostitute avenging the death of her own lover by elaborate means) that shift to and fro in time. The dazzling curlicues of narrative put brutality and tenderness back to back, shifting between crushing inevitabilities and miraculous rescues with deft storytelling skill and the lush visual style of the director ofDelicatessenandThe City of Lost Children. Through it all, Tautou--fierce and luminous--anchors the movie effortlessly. She's among the most emotionally engaging actresses in cinema, with the kind of expressive beauty that transcends language. A gorgeous, far-reaching film; the huge cast also includes Jodie Foster (The Silence of the Lambs), Gaspard Ulliel (Strayed), and Dominique Pinon (Alien: Resurrection).--Bret Fetzer
Great movie Loved it. A wonderful blend of war, romance, The story of one woman's cdetermination to find her lover who was declared dead. Would recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys French films and their delightful sense of humor.
Beautiful, but ... We enjoyed the war sequences best, as another reviewer mentioned. It's visually beautiful cinematography. The flashbacks to the war were very compelling. The love story with Tautou, less so - although the gentleman who played Manech gave an incredible performance. Tautou's performance was too coy. The unraveling of the mystery was ridiculous on-film. Her cottage was gorgeous to look at, as was most of the countryside. I read the book, and the mystery also didn't read well and was hard to follow. The film's ending was quite artistic, but also quite disappointing in the way it was wrought. More war, less linear exposition The best parts of this film are the war sequences. Visually stunning, but given in interrupted flashback format. The movie progresses following a young woman searching for her lover who was lost and presumed dead after being sentenced for execution during WWI. Clues seem to simply fall in the womans lap, moving the story forward. This is worth a watch, but don't expect a profound or memorable story.
