That's Life (C'est La Vie) (2001)

:fresh: :fresh: "C'est la vie" is one of those French films that makes me love French cinema. I did not really know Jean Pierre Ameris who not only directed this jewel but also co-wrote the book from which the movie is adapted. What strikes me in this movie is how realistic is the cinematography and how true is the acting. First of all the camera work here is remarkable: minimalist to the point, not at all "arty" as French movies can sometimes be. The color is also very well thought through. Overall the camera/filming serves the story, the drama and the actors...and that I like... The acting is top notch. Nobody is acting here. You've got the feeling that Mr. Ameris positioned his camera in order to capture a slice of life. This is the strength of Sandrine Bonnaire who is IMHO one of the best French actresses and one of the best actresses on this planet. I remember her in "Est-Ouest" (1999) where Regis Warnier (the director) got the best of her, I also remember her in "Sous le soleil de Satan" (1997) from the controversial Maurice Pialat. In all the movies she played in and the last one "Confidence trop intime" (from Patrice Leconte) is no exception she was/is on the top of her game. I also acknowledge her courage in her carrier choice and appreciate the fact that she never takes on an easy role. Her acting skill only equals her sincerity and therefore her beauty. Jacque Dutronc, a former French singer adds to the movie the charisma, the maturity and the sincerity that his character is all about. Don't forget he embodied Van Gogh in the 1991 Van Gogh from Maurice Pialat; he also played in "Toutes peines confondues" from the Polar maestro Michel Deville in 1992. In this movie he portrays with excellence a man who meets the end of the road?He succeeds in conveying dignity and manage to leave with us this feeling of profound humanity mixed with the bitterness that life is eventually about. In the middle of this "Hollywoody machinery" it is sometime refreshing to turn our eyes and our mind in other directions...French cinema sometimes delivers true jewels based not on the latest special effect but on the oldest human feelings..."C'est la vie" might very well be one of those jewels.