Waiting for You

Filmmaking written shot and played just right. I was drawn in and momentum only stopped when and where it should, that is to take in, to sense the moment. Several of which will stay with me for some time.

The headline is a compliment. For me the film was about a range of issues faced by people all over the world: the secrets we choose or feel we have to keep: the impact of our past, especially the brutality of war, on our lives and the lives of everyone we are close to: the chosen landscapes that suggest options and choices; resolution and moving forward with renewed energy and wisdom as we learn and free ourselves. The discussion with the script writer was helpful in coming to a deeper understanding of the process. I do not know how to award stars other than to say it is a film worth seeing. MB

Charming. It's a fun little tale, with some twists and turns. When someone dies, they drop hints of a treasure that rightfully belongs to paul's family. So he invents a cover story, based in reality, so he can go investigate. For me, the real suspense was waiting to see if paul was going to get caught each time he start nosing around the nooks and crannies of someone's house. The only truly nice people in here are silvie, the girl paul meets, and ahmed, the caretaker. Everyone else has overt or hidden motives, and is openly rude or mean to those around them. It's a lovely little story that unfolds as we go along. A mix of english and french languages spoken. I think this deserves a higher rating than shown here. But that's just me. Directed by charles garrad. This seems to be his one full length feature direction so far. Currently showing on free tubi streaming.

This is a great film - subtle and slow, tense and interesting. It offers a new take on the French country house, and seems to have in the background shades of Le Grand Meaulnes....it's not a love story yet it is (x 2) - and it also speaks of family and passion, secrets and lies. It celebrates all those aspects of French small town delights at the same time as being critical and then disarmingly frank about the nature of war crimes. To describe this film as charming does not do it justice as it is also a kind of thriller. There is great attention to detail and the narrative propels us firmly along, without revealing too much too soon. Additionally, the use of colloquial French by Silvie (the younger woman) is genuine and adds a credibility often lost in similar but badly translated equivalent French/British films. There is much to recommend about this personal long term project with its surprising denouement.

This movie is successful because of its nuances. It lacks significant action, yet the pace is perfect. It lacks a big reveal, yet has many small reveals that build the suspense and keep the storyline moving along.

The acting is terrific. The cinematography is great, each scene is perfectly framed. The musical score is subtle and complimentary, never gratuitous or annoying. The plot is not complicated, yet offers just enough intrigue to make you wonder what might happen next.

It's a wonderful example of balance: a little of this and a touch that - never too much of anything. And the result when all ingredients come together is a terrific blend. Minus any of those pieces, or overdoing one and underdoing another, it would have been too bland and off balance. This movie came together perfectly with all the right ingredients.