L'histoire de ma femme

This film was a pleasant surprise for me...I hadn't read the book (original source material is a book with the same title by Hungarian author Milan Fust) and I didn't know anything about the film when I watched it. Since, I have read numerous reviews and critiques of the book...and the film which was premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film festival.

The general story is about a Dutch sea captain Jakob Stor in the 1920's/1930's who, encouraged by his on-board chef, marries a young bohemian woman who he doesn't really know. The two have an odd relationship filled with seeming contempt and indifference by Lizzy the wife and patience, curiosity, and eventual jealousy by Jakob. The film is predominantly in English with some Dutch in parts...like the beginning. I was very appreciative of the Dutch language being used and Jakob being played by the Dutch actor Gijs Naber. Gijs Naber was not just the anchor holding this film together...but the best part. He was phenomenal and did a wonderful job selling a tortured and sympathetic character. One of my favorite scenes is the build up to him throwing vases etc around their flat. (He lasted longer than I would have before he snapped.) I also particularly enjoyed the sultry Tango scene, but a large part of my enjoyment of this film was the cinematography. I love some of the still moments that were just a view out of a port window...or the view of the horizon. Sea life is definitely romanticized in the film...even the camaraderie of the young crew seems idolized along with the more revered but isolated life of the captain. I understand this was a joint effort between Hungary, Germany and France and I loved it. I hope we have more joint efforts bringing literature to life. The sets and costumes were wonderful and really showcased both the time period and the fictional characters.

Not only did I love the film and highly recommend it, but I am eager to read the original book which I have had to order as my local bookstore did not have a copy. If the reviews are to be believed to book delves even more into philosophy than the film.

To define this film in the simplest of terms this is about a toxic relationship or the breakdown of a marriage between a Dutch sea captain and a young free spirited girl.

... would really have been interesting to watch this film as it should have been made in foreign language(s)... watching it now is like viewing a production having been perfectly dubbed, something is missing-lacking... actors making movies in second or third languages will do nothing but take away from a film's experience... sure there's a bit of adjustment having to read subtitles... yet the 'feel' of the movie makes it all-more-worthwhile

... interesting premise.. he's obliviously being unfaithful all the while upset, fully believing she's not being honest with him regarding her fidelity... any-all women of the day could never have close male friends, especially married-women... viewer ratings for this film would overall surely have gone up were it not for the fact of it being 169 minutes long.

A loyal captain wonders if he made the right decision.

It's a story about the impermanence of relationships, temptation and betrayal, being punished for taking things for granted, depression, living in the present. Both actors were well cast.

Why do characters need to smoke so much? I get sick of it. These are the details that take away the pleasure of seeing something.

I liked it a lot, despite being so long. I thought the main actor was excellent, I didn't know him.

A movie about how movies should be done, wonderful piece of cinematography and art. No, I havent read the novel and I dont need to. Every man who really loved a woman beyond and above everything would perfectly understand this movie. The rest, just go watch superheroes flicks and dont judge.