Chronicle of a temporary affair | The elegance of heart and mind

A single mother and a married man become lovers. Promising to see each other only in a context of pleasure and not to experience any feelings of love, these two beings are gradually surprised by their budding complicity.

Emmanuel Mouret never ceases to decline in his cinema all the nuances of the feeling of love. This 11^e feature film fits in completely with the approach of the one whose two previous feature films, Mademoiselle de Joncquières and The things we say, the things we dowon over audiences and critics alike.

By bringing to the screen a screenplay co-written with Pierre Giraud, the French filmmaker is this time betting on a seemingly simple starting point to then plunge his characters into more unexpected situations. Installing its atmosphere from the outset to the sound of Javanese – and the sublime voice of Juliette Greco –, Emmanuel Mouret first orchestrates a meeting at a party between Charlotte (Sandrine Kiberlain) and Simon (Vincent Macaigne). As often with Mouret, the clumsiness and shyness of the male character charm a more assertive female character. Charlotte engages in this pas de deux where the choreography will be well regulated and understood, although we know in advance that other elements will come into the dance…

When they begin their adulterous relationship, where a promise was made never to get attached or to develop feelings, Charlotte and Simon discover such compatibility that they know very well, in their heart of hearts, in which zone this relationship to lead to. Even if their appointments multiply, it is however out of the question to discuss it, just to screw up nothing.

The story of Chronicle of a temporary liaison turns out to be clever. Emmanuel Mouret indeed leads the two protagonists towards a more complex situation (beautiful presence of Georgia Scalliet) and illustrates without dramatic effects how an affair which lasts only the “time of a song” (as Serge Gainsbourg wrote) can be significant in its own way.

Sandrine Kiberlain and Vincent Macaigne perform this score, often funny and always beautifully written, as virtuosos, in a film marked by great elegance from the heart. And of the spirit.

Chronicle of a temporary liaison is playing in theaters.

Romantic comedy

Chronicle of a temporary liaison

Emmanuel Mouret

With Sandrine Kiberlain, Vincent Macaigne, Georgia Scalliet

1 h 40

8/10