La villa

La Villa (The House by the sea) Film 'plug' that looks like the work of a filmmaker who looks at his filmography and takes himself in 'selfie'. In short, a good film. No more. We flatten ourselves in front of the extraordinary talent of the actors ... well, the theme is probably serious and more serious, but I found the acting unconvincing and often forced or nonchalant. A movie that especially bored me because I am not impressed when I see the actors leaning on crutches. They chain smoke cigarettes (obvious plugs), drink their usual boos and eat their baloney to punctuate their deep eternal reflections (always the same for 30 years), with the same actors, on the same issues, on justice, loyalty and the end of the world. By the way, as this film also revolves around the tragedy of 'illness', according to the World Health Organization, alcohol would kill 3 millions people a year, tobacco would kill 8 millions and the junk food up to 20 millions a year ... Yes I know, except for Doctors, it is not an interesting subject of meditation.

First, I saw this without subtitles in my native language, so I may have missed a bit, but the poignant story came through anyway. It's time-tested: family dealing with pending death, but much more slips in: love, politics, real estate exploitation, to name just a few. The sites of the Mediterranean are delightful, as are visions of a life that is disappearing there. At the end, I thought, unlike another reviewer here, that these actors truly inhabited their characters; they caught me up. I did find the smoking disturbing, but that people resort to smoking again in a time of crisis is not unusual. The only consistent smoker was a young person, so go figure. Enjoy this film, if you can. It does not disappoint.

I have a fondness for picturesque and/or very beautiful views. And "The House by the Sea" gave me both. I also liked to follow the main characters Angèle, her brothers Armand and Joseph and Bérangère, Josephs fiancé as they navigated through life.

This movie portrays a couple of different things. For example, the siblings when they try to take care of their elderly and gravely ill father. Because of a trauma in the past this proves to be difficult. I admire them for their strength.

Another theme in this movie is when the main characters help three refugee children. And that isn´t very easy because the adults doesn´t speak the same language as the children.

All in all I must say that I enjoyed this movie. I suggest that you give it a honest chance.

The ability of the director drives the film through a quiet ebb that does not know hampers or falls. A family reunion redimes the past and opens up a future with recovered principles. Splendid in their subdued tones, as always, Guediguian's actors, and delicious the idea of recovering some of an ancient movies with the same but young people in it.

My only other viewing of a Guédiguian film is Une histoire de fou (A history of madness) released with the incongruous and ludicrous English title Don't tell me the boy was mad. It deals with Armenian expats in France and then those who wage war against an unforgivable past.

In La villa (The house by the sea) the director uses Ariane Ascaride again as the central character. After a twenty years absence owing to trauma Angéle returns to the villa of her ailing father. Unlike Une histoire de fou, La villa doesn't rely on a fast moving plot. There are secrets, there is suspense, there are unexpected developments, but it's gentle and 'slice of life' cinema not blockbuster.

I've noticed on reviewer giving it one star and calling it boring. One has to live this movie. It's akin to a Chekhov play and all the characters (with the possible exception of the children) unfold softly and with immense understanding. There are shades of The Seagull, The Cherry Orchard and Uncle Vanya. Not in circumstance, but in the inner lives of the characters. Angéle can easily be a mixture of Nina, Irina Arkadina and Jeljéna. Her brothers Armand and Joseph are also reminiscent of the Russian master's works. So are the neighbours, their son (Yvan) and the smitten fisherman.

There are no emotional or real summer thunderstorms or winter blizzards. La villa contains real people with day to day needs and wants and at the same time unfulfilled dreams and passions.

The four young visitors who are only seen in two brief scenes could be a jarring note, but then again they portray those with sheer hedonistic goals as opposed to the inhabitants of the villa and their lifelong neighbours.

Yet the family is not totally cut off from the world. Political intrigue also touches their lives but in a humane and personal way.

This is slow cinema at its best with excellent script, editing, direction and acting. The lack of underscoring music is also refreshing. However: La Villa is not for those who can only think in sound bytes.