Mademoiselle Chambon

This film is © by Arte France Cinéma, 2010

Starring:

Vincent Lindon as Jean
Aure Atika as Anne-Marie

Directed by: Stéphane Brizé

RATING:

French with subtitles

Sometimes random events in life can place people in real unexpected circumstances. Such is the story of this movie; where a couple of simple and normal people come together at the wrong place and at the wrong time. The film examines how dilemmas in life make people have to make tough choices which can have great impact on many others as well. From a moral standpoint the movie makes clear what is the right thing to do put present it within the context of such a sad story that the viewer is left no feeling sure between what would be good versus what would be right. Told in very simple ways this drama presents a nice little story where no matter what happens you know someone will not be happy in the end.

The film centers on Jean, who is a builder who works hard, has a family, and a simple but satisfying life. His wife ends up hurting her back at work and is left to bed rest for a while. This means Jean has to take on some of her responsibilities which he does so willingly. One of these duties is picking up their son from school every day. This is how he meets Anne-Marie, his son’s teacher and nothing is the same ever again. Slowly but surely something develops between the two as they see each other when school gets out. Jean ends up in a bind; he is married yet he develops a strong attraction to Anne-Marie who not only welcomes such feelings but reciprocates them herself. They both know that going down that path would be wrong and they struggle between what they feel and what is the right thing to do.

The style of this film resembles many other contemporary French films. The way the characters are introduced, the way the viewer gets to know them, and the way the story is told is all done through very simple everyday acts. There’s nothing over the top or any over dramatically presented scenes. Everything is done as it would haven in real life. While this sets a slow pace to the film, if the viewer is aware of it and instead focuses on the small and subtle signs shown throughout the movie it ends up being an enjoyable viewing experience. The pace also plays with the viewer as the story progresses you feel that what is supposed to happen will not happen even though the movie keeps moving in that direction.

While I would not call this a must see movie it was definitely an enjoyable experience. All the little things in the movie are what made a difference. The actors do a great job and it is their subtlety that makes this picture work. The viewer is moved by strong feelings being presented in such a simple yet realistic manner and at the same time conflicted between that and what is right and wrong. The choices made by the characters are the key to how the movie works itself out. It’s an interesting film with a scenario not seen in such light in most other movies and that’s enough to make it worthwhile checking out.