Film Introduction"Amour" is a 2012 French-language romantic drama film written and directed by Michael Haneke. The movie explores the long-lasting but strained love between an elderly couple-- Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva)-- as they face the painful obstacle of aging, deterioration, and death.
Plot SummaryThe film opens with the discovery of Anne's decayed body, elegantly dressed and surrounded by flower petals, setting a somber tone for the story. The story then flashes back to an earlier time when Georges and Anne, former music instructors, enjoy a show before returning to their Paris home. The next morning, Anne all of a sudden switches off and ends up being unresponsive during a discussion, showing the onset of an incapacitating stroke. She recuperates briefly, but has a surgery that leaves her partly paralyzed.
Expedition of Love and SufferingRegardless of the stress this puts on their lives, Georges devotes to taking care of Anne in your home, declining to hospitalize or admit her to an assisted living home. The couple's love is deeply evaluated as Anne's health progressively intensifies, and Georges' problem of caretaking weighs much heavier. As Anne ends up being significantly helpless, she entreats Georges to guarantee that he will not take her back to the hospital. He agrees, even as he watches her health degrade from wheelchair-bound to bedridden, incontinent, and finally mostly non-verbal.
Climax & ResolutionIn a terrible climax, Georges, unable to bear viewing his wife's persistent suffering, smothers her with a pillow. After her passing, he dresses her in a mixed drink gown, positions flowers around her bed and leaves the apartment or condo. Haneke never ever reveals Georges' fate, leaving audiences to consider stipulations on love, aging, and mortality.
Characterization & PerformanceBoth Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva offer poignantly realistic efficiencies, portraying the raw emotion and complexities of a couple facing impending death. Riva earned a Best Actress nomination at the Academy Awards for her moving portrayal of Anne, making her the oldest candidate in this classification.
Vital Reception & Awards"Amour" got prevalent acclaim for its unflinching representation of love, aging, and death. The film garnered various accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, 2 BAFTA Awards for Best Film Not in the English Language and Best Leading Actress for Riva, and a Palme d'Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival-- the 2nd Palme d'Or win for Haneke, making him one of the couple of filmmakers to win this prominent award twice.
General Impact"Amour" is a psychological examination of a veteran couple's love in the face of insurmountable difficulty, and a contemplative meditation on aging, decay, and mortality. Through its effective story and exceptional performances, the film offers an extensive take a look at the strength of love, offering a raw and reasonable portrayal of what it means to age, to care, and to say goodbye.
Top Cast
