Éternité

As an artistic look at the seemingly idle rich (there are no visible means of support) that covers a century of interrelated lives in Paris, this movie is about as eye popingly gorgeous as it gets. Highly praised Vietnamese born director Tran Anh Hung and Cinematographer Mark Lee Bing, along with the director's wife, Tran Nu Yen Khe as art director and narrator (every so often there are surprise dialogue scenes) create a sumptuous, highly romanticized treat for the senses but offer little else in the way of a fully involving story or pace. If you like dreamy pastoral images, National Trust Properties and costumes, all set to beautiful classical piano music and song from the conveyed eras, then you won't mind the snail pace. From the numerous long shots (some that seem to serve little purpose) it looks somewhat like Editor Mario Battistel may have had most of his suggestions overruled...?

While wars come and go (unseen) taking with them some of the cream of this family's youth - their life at home is nothing short of curiously blissful. The difficulty of life and death struggles with common diseases of the day is harshly brought home in all its tragedy. Still, we follow these otherwise blessed families as they glide through the years up to a more modern era. Looking for something to slow you down (or help you sleep?) it's here in Eternity.

Sad that so many beautiful decorations, make up, clothes, scenes and film stills were wasted for nearly nothing. The director's effort to deliver emotions through the tragedy and drama scenes were so weak, that I felt sorry towards the actors, who put the work in it. The movie was over boring, especially the flashbacks, which were totally emptied from the real sense of tragedy and emotion. Obviously, It is easily understood what the director and scenario author wanted to express, but unfortunately, they managed it in a very poor way.

A family story across a century. It begins with Jules marriage by the end of the 19th century and it goes till the end of the 20th century when his granddaughter runs to a bridge in Paris to meet the man she loves. During that century love is always present with men and women knowing each other, starting good relationships, weddings, separations and even a few tragic deaths. All this runs in a luxury scenery and environmnent, interior and exteriorl A very pleasant movie to watch. And the performance of actors and actresses is excellent with fine close-ups of their faces. Everytning appears as going very well.

I adored this film. Such unhurried beauty..I felt my desire to slow into that unhurried pace of life. The cinematography was sumptuous, coupled with the director's desire to show the the beauty of 'mundane' activities, like collecting fresh eggs, or catching baby frogs. This film is the perfect Sunday afternoon film. Gentle, deep, meaningful and with a reverence for a mother's, wife's and friend's love. I bought it immediately after watching the rental.

Eternity (French: Éternité) (2016) Director: Tran Anh Hung First Watched: 3/1/2025 6/10 Stars

An ode to life, death, and motherhood.

A sweet but intrusive narrator blurs tiny lives/three strong female generations.

Camera sings more depth than the story.

Lullabying soundtrack, bittersweet.

#Triquain #PoemReview The Triquain, created by Shelley A. Cephas, is a poem with several creative variences and can be a rhyming or non-rhyming verse. The simpliest form is a poem made up of 7 lines with 3, 6, 9, 12, 9, 6, and 3 syllables in this order. It is made to be written utilizing a center-aligned format.