Thursday, June 3, 2010

summer hours

This delicious film from my Netflix queue deserves a whole post of it's very own. Summer Hours, (L'heure d'été), 2008, written and directed by contemporary French filmmaker, Olivier Assayas, opens in a gloriously crumbling old country house an hour north of Paris. (Remember how I adore patina?) The 75 year old Hélène (Edith Scob) has gathered her three children (Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling and Jeremie Renier) and their families for her birthday, and discusses with them the fate of her extraordinary art collection, comprised by a dozen circa 1900 masterworks, including furniture by Louis Majorelle and Josef Hoffmann, glass and ceramic vases by Félix Bracquemond and Atelier d'Auteuil, and paintings by Camille Corot and Odilon Redon. The art was inherited from her famous uncle (and possibly incestuous lover), Paul Berthier, a fictional post-Impressionist painter. It's thrilling that many of these gorgeous pieces are actually on loan from the Musée d'Orsay and star, right along with the actors, in the film.

This might seem like an ordinary family melodrama, but Assayas takes the story to a highly poetical level. It's rich in meaning, but not sentimental, dealing with the relationships between people and art and the past. It conjures images of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard; the leaving behind of a lovely era and gently moving into a new order. I liked this one so much, I wanted to pop it back in the machine and watch it again. It's gentle, but ravishing. A perfect summer film.

49 comments:

  1. I saw it a few weeks back. I agree, just lovely and thought provoking.

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  2. Another one to put on my "Willow knows her movies" list.

    The French do know how to make movies, don't they?

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  3. I have to see that movie!
    Thanks for your post!
    Virginia

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  4. The two of them on the bench says it all. Most people could get into this movie. I bet you did too.

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  5. I can't wait to see this film! It sounds like exactly my kind of 'summer hour'. Is that Juliet Binoche in the photo at the top? For a moment I thought it was you. You look very much like her.

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  6. Sounds like a gorgeous film. I'll have to check it out soon. By the way, have you seen the move "Seraphine" about the "modern primitivist" painter Séraphine de Senlis? I saw that film last year and was really taken by it and have been procrastinating endlessly about posting something.

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  7. Nana Jo, that's Dominique Reymond in the opening photo, although I love Juliette Binoche. The acting is excellent from the entire cast.

    Funny you mention how much I look like Binoche, because every time WT sees her in a movie, he tells me how much she reminds him of me!

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  8. I enjoyed this film also...and you do resemble Binoche!

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  9. Lorenzo, I just added "Seraphine" to my queue by recommendation of Blue Sky's Mary Ann. I'm really looking forward to seeing it!

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  10. Also a Juliette Binoche fan. I love her voice. I would see this movie just based on what you've said about the artwork. Just went and added to my queue!

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  11. Yes Yes Yes .. . .
    saw this dreamy film a few weeks ago
    and know it will be back for a
    repeat screening before this
    summer is over.
    We often do a movie on the lawn, where
    the neighbors bring blankets and we project a film on the garden wall -
    this one might be just perfect.

    Jjj

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  12. ok, putting it on the list...sounds wonderfull...

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  13. Thanks, Willow, I added the film to our Netflix queue.

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  14. I saw the trailer for this on a DVD I had checked out of the library, and it looked like something I'd like to see. Unfortunately I don't know when I'll get a chance now. We'll see.

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  15. Hi! Willow,
    I heard of this film...through word of mouth on a film blog that I frequent...Therefore, I will most definitely, be placing this film in the cart.
    Thanks, for sharing...and the Ken Burns' documentary too!
    DeeDee ;-D

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  16. Thank you for the recommendation. I love having a nice line up to watch over the weekend.

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  17. I've never seen it. Looks like one for date night at home with wifey. I'll check it out on Netflix. Thanks.

    Stephen Tremp

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  18. I'm so glad you featured this movie...I couldn't remember the title and now thanks to you, I have reserved it on Netflix...don't you just love Blogland!

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  19. (music) "SUMMERTIME"...and the livin' is easy..

    Lovely film, I've go to see that, although I have difficulty staying in one place for long time--unless it in front of Flex (my computer).

    He, thank you for visiting, and I'll B'roll you also. I must learn about this Magpie thing also--with over 1,000 followers it HAS to be a worthy weekly? event.

    And I also LOVE the musically lilting pleasantness of French speaking...only understand the sub-titles though--woe is me!

    Stunning blog you put up here, Willow...

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  20. Sounds quite lovely! Once we work our way through all the episodes of FOYLE'S WAR (my current infatuation) we'll have to give it a try.

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  21. Thanks for yet another hot movie tip; you sure know to pick 'em. Next stop? My Netflix queue to order this film.

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  22. Thank you for highlighting this film. It sounds most strikingly summer and gorgeous.

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  23. I had just recently placed this one in my queue! I'm happy to know you liked it so much.

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  24. Thank you for the recommendation! My queue was getting a little short!

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  25. Brilliant - thank you so much for this. As you know I'm busy collecting film recommendations for our newly acquired monthly film rental club out here. This is one I know, just know they will have

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  26. Well, I just added it to my Netflix queue...now I've got about 300 films listed! I spent all last weekend watching movies ( I didn't get one constructive thing done! ).


    My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon
    ( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
    http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1

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  27. Thank you for be such a guiding light to wonderful movies! Must see that one Merci beaucoup!

    Right now I am on the way out to a photo shoot. Movie poster, entirely fictional, though. Homework. Thank heaven the sun is breaking through the clouds!

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  28. Now this is my kind of movie..thank you willow for bringing it to our attention!

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  29. Thank you for this...this is what I need now.
    Topic is spot on at the moment.

    We both have movies on our minds. I just posted the trailer for an old one...Enchanted April.

    Great viewing!!

    Jeanne :)

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  30. Sounds like one to watch out for. I am beginning to watch more films these days - I suspect the influence of Willow somewhere along the line.

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  31. thanks willow..can't wait!

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  32. Makes me ponder of what will happen to the pink chateau and all of my worldly treasures...my daughter is a city girl...sigh!

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  33. Willow - I saw this film last year and like you, was enchanted - in a Summer-sort-of-way... beautiful setting, music....and the art - oh my!

    Sitzprobe for "Die Walkure" last night..... WOW! This is going to be the best "Walkure" I have seen in 20 years.... (parachutes and all)!

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  34. Love Juliette Binoche - thanks for the recommendation.

    And you, Willow. "Remember how I love patina?" You are the BEST.

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  35. I loved this one..the humanity and warmth..so glad you brought it up..Netflix...me too!!

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  36. Thank you for the charmig recommendation - and for bringing Chekov into a post! Did you ever watch the Earhart film you comment-mentioned in one of my posts?

    French films have the ability to transport and titillate my brain. Not a bad thing these days.

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  37. Clarity, no, I haven't watched the Earhart film. Is it out on DVD yet?

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  38. Thanks Willow - sounds wonderful!

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  39. This looks like an amazing film - I can't wait to see it (I'll have to tell my mom about it too - but then, she's probably already seen it!).

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  40. lovely image,
    I am sure it is a treat,
    referring to the film.
    Smiles!

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  41. From the clip, it looks lush. I love Binoche.

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  42. I saw this movie only recently and thought of you, wondering if you'd seen it before.
    It was lovely.

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  43. You've done it again!...added to my extremely long Netflix list:)

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  44. I just added it to my Netflix queue. I love your taste in movies. Thank you for the recommendation.

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  45. Oh, thank you--I'm adding it to my queue immediately!

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  46. I haven't heard of this, but it has all of the elements that I love -- including Juliette Binoche (who I adore).

    It sounds like a good Father's Day present for my Francophile husband.

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  47. So glad I stopped by...it's been too long. Thank you for this delicious looking film recommendation; I'm adding it to my Netflex queue right away.

    I love your new artist find...as in your banner.

    Sara

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  48. I know i would LOVE this movie.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)