Amour written and directed by Michael Haneke

Amour written and directed by Michael Haneke

A different version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:

-              https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E  and   http://realini.blogspot.ro/

Love has always fascinated creators and common people.

In general, the bright side is depicted, or the jealousies and conflicts of young age.

Even tender age in the case of Romeo and Juliet, who some say it is the most beautiful love story of them all.

Gabriel Liiceanu was saying as much, considering the scene at the ball as the ultimate statement of love.

In Amour however, the setting is different, the protagonists are no longer teenagers and the exchanges between them are at times annoying, in some circumstances difficult to understand.

This is Love at sunset.

But not in front of a beautiful, if descending sun.

It is a powerful feeling, but taking place at the age of decay.

Georges and Anne have seen better days, but they now struggle to survive.

In her case, from a stage on, speech is impaired and next to impossible.

Someone has to turn her over and change her diaper.

It is a trained helper, but also her spouse.

It is not the holding of hands and kisses.

One has to support the partner  who does not dance anymore.

Anne can barely walk now.

It is frustrating, painful and desperate at times.

She used to have a brilliant mind.

Maybe she still does, but her uttering a offer no clue.

Emmanuelle Riva is majestic in the role that involves so much misery and humiliation.

Jean-Louis Trintignant is a master of the game.

He is an exceptional artist that I have admired recently in The Conformist, a work from a different time in his career.

Georges loves his wife, but he is in an impossible situation.

His resources are limited.

Even if he can still walk, unlike his spouse, he is also facing downfall.

There are periods when exhaustion and misery are so pregnant.

The viewer feels pity, horror, fear, disgust and compassion.

That is what the protagonists must also experience.

There are tender and brief, but enchanting moments of joy...

When Georges is exercising with his wife, both when trying to walk and later on the communication, done in bed, where at that stage Anne is confined.

Georges is using a well known song to make his spouse utter the words:

-          Sur le Pont d'Avignon

-          On y danse, On y danse

-          Sur le Pont d'Avignon

-          On y danse tous en rond

She tries very hard, but barely mumbles something incomprehensible.

-          What to do in such cases?

-          End of life options are to be considered.

We have another character, played by the one who may be the best actress in the world today:

Isabelle Huppert, recently nominated for an Academy Award and winner of the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Drama for Elle.

Eva is the daughter of Anne and Georges and she appears somewhat demanding towards her poor father.

First of all, he is no longer able-at one stage- to cope with the enormous task and the extraordinary challenges involved.

Then there is the issue of suffering and how long should he, or any of us, allow the victim of such ordeals to go on enduring immense pain, with no end in sight for the terror, except the Final Exit...

-          What is to be done?

Religious people have an answer from God, who for many of them forbids any interference with Fate or His Will...

Otherwise it is a complicated moral, ethical quandary.

For the relatives, it is both horrible and it gives meaning to be caring, involved and dedicated to someone dear.

We have to be altruistic, giving and kind.

This film is a masterpiece and A wonderful lesson of ethics, philosophy, meaning of life and ...

-          Amour