NETFLIX SYNOPSIS:  Sexual tension flares and fizzles in this subtle French drama set in the confines of a violin shop. Stephane (Daniel Auteuil), the chief instrument builder, is so committed to his work that he barely notices the beautiful young violinist (Emmanuelle Beart) who's sharing a bed with his business partner, Maxime (Andre Dussollier). Problems arise, however, when she aims her passions at Stephane's cold heart.

REVIEW:  This film is an example of how, when executed well, in-depth character studies can be much more entertaining than car chases, explosions and special effects.  Without any "action" scenes (except the single memorable confrontation scene in a cafe between Beart's and Auteil's characters), including sexual scenes, this film had me completely engrossed from beginning to end.

The title of the film reflects Stephane's character, a seemingly nice guy (who happens to be a master violin craftsman) who is business partners with his longtime friend Maxime.  He is very sociable, his friends respect his talent and appreciate his companionship, and from all the film's cues, he seems like a stand up guy.  Maxime introduces him to a girl he's dating (Beart's character) who is a professional violinist, and there is no doubt some attraction between them, though at first it's entirely coming from Stephane.

The film reflects on this premise subtly with nicely executed scenes - in one, she can't seem to play well when he's in the room and, tactfully and seamlessly, Stephane makes up an excuse and extracts himself from the situation, pauses a moment after he closes the door and, upon hearing her play the rest of the piece without a hitch, he smiles and exits the scene.  As the chemistry begins to build, the film's implications of a mutual attraction become stronger, with Stephane taking a detour to the recording studio where Beart's character and her accompanists are in the midst of recording a piece and he listens to her in the studio, unobserved.  This culminates in a scene where he and she, after running through a heavy downpour, take a break at a cafe and get to know each other.  In a bit of foreshadowing (as we later find out), the couple next to them begin to fight loudly, attracting the attention of everyone around them, including Auteil and Beart.

Without revealing any twists in the storyline, except to again look at the title of the film, I was left with what can only be described as a feeling of "WTF?!!" at the 3/4 point of the film.  The film took me off balance, but resolved nicely.  Beart and Auteil both add to their long list of great films and I was very impressed with Auteil's ability to play such an unsympathetic character, as heretofore I'd seen him in very likable roles.

What more to convince you besides the physically attractive main characters and great character studies?  Oh!  If you appreciate classical music, you will absolutely love this.  Beart must have learned how to play the violin for this role as there are no cutaways from those scenes, and some of the scenes are so extended, and the pieces are played so passionate, that I unintentionally held my breath during one scene, only able to exhale after the piece was over (specifically referring to the piece she played in the recording studio - awesome)!

4 stars -- Don't miss it.
Audrey

ஆனால் அதற்கும் மேலாக பாத்திரப் படைப்பு மற்றும் வசனத்தில் அதகளம் பண்ணியிருக்கிறார்கள்! காதல் மரத்தை சுற்றி விளையாடும் சாதரண விசயமில்லை. ஆழ்மனதில் வேரெடுக்கும் வலி, பொறுப்பு என்று ஒரு பொருந்தாக் காதலில் காட்டியிருக்கிறார்கள். படம் முழுக்க எண்ணங்களை வசனமாகப் பேசுகிறார்கள்!

நிற்க. இந்தப்படம் பார்த்தேயாக வேண்டியதுதான்! ஆனால் இதை ஓரளவுக்கு மேல் உங்களால் புரிந்துகொள்ள முடியவில்லை அல்லது ரசிக்க முடியவில்லை என்றால் நீங்கள் சாதரணமாக இருக்கிறீர்கள்! மனங்களையும், மனிதர்களையும் எடைபோடும் வேண்டாத வேலையில் இன்னும் இறங்கவில்லை என்று அர்த்தம்!

நான் சமீபத்தில் பார்த்து இன்னும் விமர்சனம் எழுதாமல் இருந்த Paradise Now, இந்த வார விகடன் வெளிச்சம் பகுதியில் வந்திருக்கிறது. நல்ல படம். பார்க்கலாம்!