Veronique Chambon, a music school teacher in the provinces, has a talent for playing the violin. Mlle. Chambon is a sort of itinerant teacher that goes to wherever there is a position. For all she knows, she might be sent to another remote town to start all over again. Meeting Jean, the father of one of her students, changes her quiet existence into that of possibilities she never experienced.
Jean is a mason working for himself. He and his wife Anne Marie live a somewhat happy life. All is not perfect. Jean takes care of his aging father with loving respect. He even goes with the old man to select the casket in which he wants to be buried. An unusual request, but some people want to control those little details so there are no decisions for the ones left behind to guess.
Veronique wants to have parents of her pupils come and talk to the children about what they do for a living, something that puzzles Jean, as she asks him to address the classroom. When the teacher needs to replace a window in her apartment, she calls on Jean. He discovers she can play the violin and asks her advice about what to listen. In subtle ways, they come together by something bigger than both of them.
Stephane Brize directed this film, which is based on a novel by Eric Holder, adapting the material for the screen with Florence Vignon. It is basically a love story in which both lovers enter it without realizing the limitations and obstacles they must face in order to make it work. Jean, a decent man, realizes he has gone way too far. After all, he has a lovely family he will eventually hurt by his actions. Veronique has nothing to lose, and yet, she realizes at the last moment at the train station that perhaps she was dreaming when she thought it would be possible to have a life with Jean.
Beautifully acted by Vincent Lindon and Sandrine Kiberlain, who were married to one another in real life, they make the film real because both players make us believe in the love that they could have against the stark realities of their lives. Aure Atika is seen as Anne Marie, Jean's wife. Jean-Marc Thibault appears as the ailing father.
Antoine Heberle's cinematography gets in vivid detail the small town atmosphere. The original music is by Ange Ghinozzi accompanying the other great violin music that is heard throughout the film. Stephane Brize shows a natural talent for telling a heartfelt story that feels real.
Jean is a mason working for himself. He and his wife Anne Marie live a somewhat happy life. All is not perfect. Jean takes care of his aging father with loving respect. He even goes with the old man to select the casket in which he wants to be buried. An unusual request, but some people want to control those little details so there are no decisions for the ones left behind to guess.
Veronique wants to have parents of her pupils come and talk to the children about what they do for a living, something that puzzles Jean, as she asks him to address the classroom. When the teacher needs to replace a window in her apartment, she calls on Jean. He discovers she can play the violin and asks her advice about what to listen. In subtle ways, they come together by something bigger than both of them.
Stephane Brize directed this film, which is based on a novel by Eric Holder, adapting the material for the screen with Florence Vignon. It is basically a love story in which both lovers enter it without realizing the limitations and obstacles they must face in order to make it work. Jean, a decent man, realizes he has gone way too far. After all, he has a lovely family he will eventually hurt by his actions. Veronique has nothing to lose, and yet, she realizes at the last moment at the train station that perhaps she was dreaming when she thought it would be possible to have a life with Jean.
Beautifully acted by Vincent Lindon and Sandrine Kiberlain, who were married to one another in real life, they make the film real because both players make us believe in the love that they could have against the stark realities of their lives. Aure Atika is seen as Anne Marie, Jean's wife. Jean-Marc Thibault appears as the ailing father.
Antoine Heberle's cinematography gets in vivid detail the small town atmosphere. The original music is by Ange Ghinozzi accompanying the other great violin music that is heard throughout the film. Stephane Brize shows a natural talent for telling a heartfelt story that feels real.