3 coeurs

This was a funny one for me... while there was a lot to admire about this movie, there were several things that irritated me about it.

On the one hand, it was, in many respects a well-made film; the acting was superb (almost always the case in European movies), the pacing was good, and it was well shot. Some of the scenes were excellent, and the director did a fantastic job of building the tension, and making the audience squirm as the main protagonist dug himself deeper and deeper into a hole of self-destruction. The ending was left deliberately and intriguingly ambiguous (which I like). There were also moments of real comedy, which were well-placed.

There were, however, a number of frustrating aspects to it. Several elements of the plot were glaringly improbable, which made the characters harder to empathise with, and the movie harder to take seriously. The musical score was almost comically ominous and melodramatic. A narrator suddenly popped up halfway through the movie and only appeared twice more - a needless, distracting and frankly baffling gimmick. One strand of the plot fizzled out and proved ultimately irrelevant.

In summary, this movie is worth seeing if there's nothing else on. There are some interesting ideas, some great scenes, and its emotional, passionate nature would appeal to the romantics of this world. The cast is also superb. There were, however, several problems with it, which served to exasperate me.

Unfortunately, this movie did not work well for me. I must admit I don't really like romances, but I can appreciate it when it's well done. The story is quite weak. It doesn't really grab the attention, it does not really convince. It tries to build up a tension (music is anticipating) to something that might happen later on in the movie; but the movie-makers placed importance and weight where I did not experience much importance and weight. Poelvoorde does not play bad, but the character he must play does not give him much room to play well; probably the character itself does not work sufficiently. I know Poelvoorde can play well, having seen him in his first film... Best acting is by Deneuve though she has not a big role. All in all this was a disappointing movie for me.

I must admit that I approached this film with a quite special a priori. On one hand, I love the actors Benoît Poelvoorde and Chiara Mastroianni. On the other hand, the last three movies of Benoît Jacquot (i.e. Dernier amour, Éva, À jamais) are, in my humble opinion, relatively mediocre.

Marc is a caricature of what is called in French a 'coeur d'artichaut': he falls easily in love. Too easily! Thus, Marc encounters Sylvie but, as soon as they know each other, they lose sight of each other, following an unforeseen event. A few days later, Marc meets Sophie by chance and falls in love ... again. It turns out that Sophie is unfortunately the sister of Sylvie. The film traces then a triangular relationship with Marc and the two sisters, Sylvie and Sophie. As you may guess, the wheels will soon be off the cart!

As usual with Benoît Jacquot, the script is far-fetched and Benoît Jacquot seems to go astray or wander. But the quatuor Benoît Poelvoorde, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve is excellent. Even if his character is barely credible, Benoît Poelvoorde is really great. And Chiara Mastroianni is exceptionally magnificent.

As a synthesis: 5/6 of 10. Although the script is lopsided, the film contains some sublime scenes.

PS: Three coeurs is the tenth film gathering Chiara Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve, after these ones: Les lignes de Wellington (2012), Les bien-aimés (2011), Bancs publics (Versailles rive droite) (2009), Un conte de Noël (2008), Persepolis (2007), Le temps retrouvé, d'après l'oeuvre de Marcel Proust (1999), Les voleurs (1996), Ma saison préférée (1993) and À nous deux (1979). Champagne !

I chose to watch it by coincidence. I could see most reviews were not favorable. It's slow in pace and lacked of dialogues and physical actions also. Yet, the actors and actresses resonated with me.

The story revealed how falling in love in first sight happened if you ever vouched for it. It's far from the Cinderella story. On the contrary, the subsequent was tragic. The twists and turns of three involved parties had fateful endings. Nonetheless, it left me long lasting reflections.

Frequently, American movies overwhelmed with dialogues and actions. Inadvertently, audience are practically told how to feel also. Employing body languages and facial expressions to depict the story would raise audience's senses for a change. Movies like this could linger in your thought for a while. They also require higher degrees of crafts which actors here sometimes are not equipped to do.

It's not a dramatic one but you will remember and be moved by. I would recommend it.

Don't be fooled by the low rating. Totally loved this film. Very realistic. This is not a Hollywood film with a lot of special effects. So if you are looking for a fairy tale, move on to the next film in queue. The cast is absolutely superb - very real life, all very likable. I loved the three main characters played by Benoit, Charlotte and Chiara. It is hard to dictate whom and how to love, how to fall out of love. And the film is about emotional turmoil involved in chance meetings and close-knit triangles. The ending is open to interpretation. And last, but not least, I totally and completely disagree with other reviewers who mentioned that the cast is sub-par (so far from reality). Great film.