It is the story of an elderly couple who live together in their Paris apartment. They both teach music and their only daughter lives in England. One morning the wife suffers a stroke. She makes her husband promise that she will not go into care... and we watch their relationship and their life together as her health declines.
"That's a barrel of laughs!" you do say. But do not forget this is the blog of an elder person. And one wonders....
It is a disciplined film with beautiful performances. I am deeply involved in their story.... as the story of two people and the choices they make.... not just the "plight of the elderly".
When it finishes I do sit there for a bit feeling quite objective about everything... then my eyes fill with tears. The Old Man looks unmoved. Though he do say that it is marvelous to watch a film where the only music is that which belongs in the story itself. .... and next day he do admit that the film has stayed with him.
It do knock all these cheery pieces about old people facing up to mortality and grief and joining a choir or having a sing-song.... into a cocked hat. And strangely it is not depressing. It is what it is and what it is... is very moving.
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