One Fine Morning (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'One Fine Morning', a French art house drama written & directed by Mia Hansen-Love, tells the story of Sandra Kinsler (Lea Seydoux), a struggling widowed, single mom who works as a translator & lives in Paris with her spirited 8 yr. old daughter, Linn (Camille Leban Martins). Sandra is also obliged to care for her ailing, beloved father, Georg (Pascal Greggory), a former professor & brilliant individual who has been suffering from Benson's syndrome, a neurodegenerative disease akin to Alzheimer's; slowly, then rapidly affecting his eyesight & cognitive abilities.
During this troublesome time, she has a chance meeting with the married friend of her late husband in the park, a chemist, Clement (Melvil Poupaud), with a son the same age as her daughter. Over time, they become lovers; even though he is unhappily married in a bad marriage. But since he will not divorce, Sandra - though revitalized by the passionate affair - feels for his wife. To say she is conflicted & emotionally put-upon is an understatement.
Sandra's main concern above all is to help her father in his waning years, as they relocate him to various nursing homes with little success. Also helping out, somewhat, is her sister (Sarah Le Picard), Georg's flighty ex-wife, Francoise (Nicole Garcia), his current female companion, Leila (Fejria Deliba), & nurses at the nursing home. How Sandra handles the emotionally-taxing situations concerning her father, her lover, her job & her daughter is the gist of this very naturalistic, true-to-life drama.
Everyone in the cast is excellent, giving authentic portrayals; so much so that it feels like you're a fly on the wall watching a documentary unfold; albeit, with lovely cinematography & music to let you know that you ARE watching an actual movie. Lea Seydoux can do more with her eyes than a whole page of dialogue could achieve. She's superb and, the main reason to check out this emotionally-poignant drama about juggling different type of loves.
During this troublesome time, she has a chance meeting with the married friend of her late husband in the park, a chemist, Clement (Melvil Poupaud), with a son the same age as her daughter. Over time, they become lovers; even though he is unhappily married in a bad marriage. But since he will not divorce, Sandra - though revitalized by the passionate affair - feels for his wife. To say she is conflicted & emotionally put-upon is an understatement.
Sandra's main concern above all is to help her father in his waning years, as they relocate him to various nursing homes with little success. Also helping out, somewhat, is her sister (Sarah Le Picard), Georg's flighty ex-wife, Francoise (Nicole Garcia), his current female companion, Leila (Fejria Deliba), & nurses at the nursing home. How Sandra handles the emotionally-taxing situations concerning her father, her lover, her job & her daughter is the gist of this very naturalistic, true-to-life drama.
Everyone in the cast is excellent, giving authentic portrayals; so much so that it feels like you're a fly on the wall watching a documentary unfold; albeit, with lovely cinematography & music to let you know that you ARE watching an actual movie. Lea Seydoux can do more with her eyes than a whole page of dialogue could achieve. She's superb and, the main reason to check out this emotionally-poignant drama about juggling different type of loves.