I’ve Loved You So Long

Kristin Scott Thomas gives an outstanding performance in the French-language I’ve Loved You So Long as a doctor released from prison after serving a 15-year sentence. She goes to live with her sister, with whom she has had little contact during her incarceration. Scott Thomas’ renown from earlier films like The English Patient, her Oscar-caliber performance here and the accessible story should attract audiences far larger than the regular foreign film enthusiasts.

Juliette (Scott Thomas) is picked up at the airport by her younger sister Lea (Elsa Zylberstein). Scott Thomas’ expressive face shows Juliette’s fear in confronting the outside world as well as weariness from extended prison life. Lea and Juliette had been very close before the conviction. But Lea, then a teenager, was prevented by their parents from communicating with Juliette during her incarceration.

In contrast to her sister, Lea has a happy manner during the drive to her home as she tells of her marriage to Luc (Serge Hazanavicius) and their two adopted Vietnamese daughters. She later says that she did not want to experience childbirth. Juliette blames her situation for that feeling. It is eventually revealed that Juliette was accused of killing her 6-year-old son. Although Lea is determined to rebuild the bond with her sister that she had many years ago, Luc shows his discomfort that someone with Juliette’s past is staying with his family.

This film is an extremely assured directorial debut for Philippe Claudel, best known in France as a novelist. Like Lea, Claudel is a professor of literature. For 11 years, he taught at a prison, which gives his film an insight into Juliette’s painful adjustment and how she affects others. His screenplay contains several intriguing characters and revealing dialogue. He is particularly effective with the actors.

Scott Thomas completely inhabits Juliette, detailing her cautiously warming up to others along with a resistance in getting close enough to reveal too much of herself. She begins a tentative friendship with Michel (Laurent Greville), a colleague of Lea’s. Like Claudel, Michel had worked in a prison, which helps him to understand Juliette more than anyone else. Juliette’s attempts at building independence by applying for a job are defeated when her prison record is discovered. At times, the strain makes Juliette seem drained of life.

Zylberstein is excellent, showing how Juliette’s presence forces Lea to reassess her own life. A scene in which Lea demonstrates intense anger as she discusses Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment with her students—raising issues that have become very personal to her—is particularly impressive.

Claudel said that his film shows the rebirth of the relationship between the two sisters. This absorbing emotional journey builds to a devastating climax between Juliette and Lea.

Distributor: Sony Classics
Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstein, Serge Hazanavicius, Laurent Greville and Frederic Pierrot
Director/Screenwriter : Philippe Claudel
Producer: Yves Marmion
Genre : Drama; French-language, subtitled
Rating : PG-13 for thematic material and smoking
Running time : 117 min.
Release date : October 24 NY/LA