I've Loved You So Long

Thank heavens for the French. It sometimes feels like the only decent roles for women of a certain age (no matter how beautiful they may remain) are handed out by French directors. Condemned to play mothers or middle-aged professionals in mainstream English-language films, they are allowed to flex their acting muscles across the Channel. Francois Ozon came up with some cracking roles for Charlotte Rampling and now Philippe Claudel has written a terrific part for Kristin Scott Thomas as a woman just released from jail after 15 years. It's gradually revealed that she killed her own child (the reason why is withheld until the end) prompting distrust and unease from her brother-in-law, especially when she's around her nieces. The real heart of the film though is the relationship with her younger sister Lea, who unconditionally welcomes Juliette into her home, despite resistance from both her husband and her sister herself. Gradually the wan, withdrawn Juliette rejoins the world, bonding with the eldest niece by teaching her to play the piano, just as she did with Lea. There's a terrific moment when an aggressive dinner host goads the "mysterious Juliette" into revealing the truth about herself. The guests burst into delighted laughter at how she has bested him, apart from one who realizes she has indeed revealed the truth.