L'économie du couple

So this is an indie movie. It isn't here to entertain you, it's aim is to illustrate life through art. You probably won't like the characters. You probably won't like that there is not a neat ending. This is tragedy explored through film. It is real and painful to watch, as a failed marriage often is. There is a scene where the friends of the ex-couple sit on, awkwardly, at a dinner party as cruel words and fighting breakout between the couple- and that is a good metaphor for the viewer's experience. It isn't pleasant, but it is real. This is life shown through art. And, in some ways, it feels a lot like what the recent and much talked about Marriage Story could have been, had that film been less permeated in the whimsical and humorous tone that made the film so palatable, despite the sad subject matter. I think this film shows a tragic part of life in a way that is important for the viewer to think about.

Marie and Boris were in love once and have two daughters and a lovely house that Boris has done up mostly by himself. Somewhere along that journey the love has been reversed and now Marie can not abide the sight of her husband. They seem to have arrangements to cohabit until finances have been sorted but things are steadily falling apart.

The film can be a hard watch as anyone going through a relationship meltdown or who has gone through one will know. The ways they chose to humiliate each other seem to know no bounds. Then we have the guilt trips and the fumbling make ups.

It has the feel of a very well observed and constructed film. All the actors are great especially the children. What it does get for its unrelenting realism is a bleak and almost depressing film. This is as far from a 'feel good' film as you can possibly get – think 'Kramer Vs Kramer' only with better wine. As an artistic endeavour though it does have to be applauded for its achievements – but I had to watch something more cheery afterwards so do be warned.

A divorce is never easy and such settings have been plainly used by movies in any countries. This movie however adresses a specific topic, as the matter is on separate maintenance, money and housing. Here, the focus is not the fight for the children, as almost always in such movies. This topic is addressed through a specific situation: if the couple separates after years of common life, they continue to cohabitate, because of the money issues the man has and because they couldn't find an agreement on the split.

I felt this movie had somehow two parts, one with the conflict between the former couple, the rising of tension, the dynamics. At that time, I would have given it a 8: well shot, well directed, we are faced with a situation that can't last. The second part tries to go on with the story, with the objective to make things move and reach a conclusion. It was necessary but less successful.

Some American films about couples beginning to fall apart have been well done and funny even, but this film takes the whole matter far too seriously. It is a serious matter but no one wants just woe and woebegone. I much prefer "Kramer vs. Kramer" and "The War Between the Tates." The French and francophone Belgians take everything too seriously except what should be taken seriously.

... considering divorce rates are so unwaveringly high... many can relate to the tale being told... it's a very well-made-acted-film that has realism going for it... one reviewer mentioned when they have watched something of this depressing a nature, they need allow time to then find something more uplifting right after... guess similar can be said about failed relationships.