C'est ça l'amour

I saw this Masterpiece at the Zürich Film Fest last night and was taken by the attention to detail and realism in every aspect of the story and production. This is a movie which doesn't force its uniqueness but achieves it naturally, as a function of the narrative and superb writing, acting and editing. The multiple stories of love and longing which transpire involving the members of recently separated Mario Messina's (Bouli Lanners) family inform a larger narrative as well as transform and strengthen their love for one other. And this emotional ride is flawlessly interspersed with well-observed comedic beats contrasting with the subject matter and reminding the audience of the humanity, imperfection, and sometimes absurdity, implicit in our own attempts to love and be loved. Because there's so much taking place, and doing so on so many different levels, and because its all so effortlessly woven together this apparent family narrative belies a profound complexity, one that easily bears repeated viewing.