Following an accident in which their parents are involved, a retired poet and his actress sister, both in their late fifties, are forced to see each other again, even though they have feelings for each other. another a feeling of hatred for more than twenty years.
Posted November 11
In line with kings and queen (2004) and A Christmas tale (2008), who also happen to be two of his finest jewels, Brother and sister will certainly be one of the key films in the work of Arnaud Desplechin, in the same way as the other two. The director of Deceptionin collaboration with Julie Peyr, its appointed co-screenwriter, does not use the same characters as in the opuses mentioned above (we are however still with a family named Vuillard), but we find here an undeniable community of spirit.
One of the elements making this family chronicle a great success is that the esteemed filmmaker focuses his attention this time on two protagonists. The latter are obviously surrounded by interesting peripheral characters, but Brother and sister has nothing of the choral film. This way of refocusing the story thus allows Arnaud Desplechin to really explore the subtleties of a theme as difficult as it is fascinating: the visceral hatred between two members of the same family.
The prologue immediately sets the tone. Louis (Melvil Poupaud) has just lost his 6-year-old son and throws a fit as soon as he sees his brother-in-law, who has come to offer his condolences, while his sister Alice (Marion Cotillard) stays behind outside. Five years later, these two “enemies” risk meeting again when their parents are trying to recover from a serious road accident, caused by two drunk drivers.
Thanks to magnificent shots, beautiful romantic impulses, voice-over dialogues, and, it goes without saying, remarkable interpretations by Marion Cotillard and Melvil Poupaud, the director of Roubaix, a light engages in the twists and turns of a conflict between two close friends, through which they strangely define themselves in relation to each other, without even knowing the source of their resentment or remembering it. Can they get out? And if yes, how ?
Brother and sister is currently showing. It will also be available on Crave on November 13.
Drama
Brother and sister
Arnaud Desplechin
With Marion Cotillard, Melvil Poupaud, Golshifteh Farahani
1:48