Une femme heureuse

The Escape is a very slow movie. I believe this should be the first thing to keep in mind if you are going to watch it. On the other hand, it is an incredibly deep movie with a real focus on characters, feelings and emotions. You can actually feel the pain and the sorrow, and even if you do not agree with the choices of Tara, you canot avoid to suffer with her.

Not the best movie of the year, but for sure a good option to explore a little bit more the human nature of couples.

Granted the first 20 minutes is overly long explaining Tara's life and state of mind. The scene in the car park of the multiple mum's, with toddlers and shopping trollies was enough to do this! I also found some of the editing and photograpy a bit irksome e.g. some point of view shots. In the end though, I could relate to both characters and this is why I enjoyed it.

Gemma Arterton who plays Tara was great. Stripped of make-up, she was stark but utterly graceful. As W.B. Yeats would say "A terrible beauty is born."

For the record, this is my first review and I am not involved in the film in anyway!

Wow, this an excellent portrayal of depression, and I'm sure it'll resonate with so many mothers/wives out there. It is so good, so realistic and recognisable, it was very difficult to watch at times. Gemma Arterton should be applauded for her work here.

Unfortunately I felt the narrative too simplistic and the ending unsatisfying. They've also gone for minimal dialogue, which whilst I'm sure some would argue you don't need as everything is written on their faces, I personally found it much too minimal.

In summary - amazing and moving portrayal of depression and helplessness in the acting, but ultimately a not wholly satisfying film to watch. 7/10

Gemma Arterton's performance was wonderful in this film. She summed up her feelings and thoughts perfectly and even triggered my own feelings in regards to depression. It was very moving and difficult to watch at times. Slow burned to create feelings of tension building up inside her.

Let me start this review by saying I've never wanted children. I've never understood the societal pull for having children. Bearing in mind I'm a 48 year old man, this film gave me further confirmation that I've made the right life choice in that regard. What I loved about this film was that it confronted fears and actions rarely seen in film - that of a wife and mother needing more to life than simply giving and not taking. A wife who looks after her two children. A wife who looks after her husband. There must be more to life than being a wife and mother? Or indeed a husband and father. The Eacape was a morally complex and thought provoking film that's rarely seen - questioning the very idea of the norms of society. We all need structure. We all need love. But sometimes that's not enough. 7 out of ten.