I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG

Juliette was a doctor. Juliette had a husband and a son. Juliette was in prison for murder.

The first thing you should know about I've Loved You So Long is that it's a French film. In French. It's not exactly what you're expecting with Kristin Scott Thomas in the lead, but once you've embraced the fact that you'll either be listening to the dubbed version (which Scott Thomas did herself) or reading subtitles, you're ready to enjoy a compelling drama that's bound to pull at your heart strings. If nothing else, it is a brilliant character study of a grossly misunderstood woman.

After fifteen years in prison, Juliette Fontaine (Kristin Scott Thomas) begins the adjustment to life on the outside by moving in with her younger sister Lea (Elsa Zylberstein). Though the two have been out of touch for the duration of Juliette's sentence, Lea has fond memories of their girlhood together, and only lost contact with Juliette at the insistence of their parents. Now married with two adopted children, Lea hopes to reclaim the sister who became a blank spot in her life.

While Juliette is far from unpleasant, the transition from blank spot to sister doesn't happen quite as quickly as Lea might have hoped. Instead she becomes a sort of question mark in their home. The children wonder where she's been all their lives, Lea's husband wonders how she can be trusted, and Lea herself simply isn't sure. In many ways Juliette is the same smart, affectionate, and civilized girl that Lea grew up loving, but there is a certain hardness about her, a cold, apathetic quality. It's not the air of a criminal, but of someone who has been alone with her pain for far too long.

As the film progresses, the pieces slowly fall into place. Juliette was a doctor. Juliette had a husband and a son. Juliette was in prison for murder. For much of the movie, these facts fail to form a story, and Juliette refuses to connect the dots for anyone. She struggles to form new friendships, to fit in at a job that is beneath her ability, but never does she stop and explain herself. It's a form of self-punishment that far exceeds anything the state could have imposed, and it stifles Juliette even as she attempts to participate in everyday life. Ultimately it's Lea who finally discovers the sad truth, and it's her unwavering love that finally allows Juliette to claim her story.

I have no doubt that watching the dubbed version of the film takes away from its integrity, but I was moved by Kristin Scott Thomas nonetheless. She remains relatable, if inscrutable, and the humanity of this convicted murderer never comes into question. Though she takes her time revealing herself, Juliette's secret and her redemption are well worth waiting for.

DVD NOTES

Special features include deleted scenes with optional commentary by director Philippe Claudel and the English language version featuring the voice of Kristin Scott Thomas.