Literally, "Too Intimate Confidences", this is a quiet tale of mistaken identity that becomes a deep and lasting friendship. Sandrine Bonnaire is radiant as Anna, a woman who seeks the help of a therapist and accidentally (?) winds up in the office of a tax attorney, William (Fabrice Luchini), where she dumps a load of
emotional freight before he realizes her mistake. What develops flows from that initial misunderstanding and was a pure joy to watch, from the clucking reluctance of his secretary, to the helpful advice from the therapist down the hall, to that of his ex-girlfriend. The story moved naturally, if haltingly, as these two lonely people learned to listen to each other and grew to trust one another. This is about following one's heart, pursuing one's dreams, and learning to really care about another person. Both of these characters have emotional voids and it is engrossing to watch those vulnerabilities play out before us. Beautifully filmed, marvelous editing, and a script that was properly nuanced to give the viewer enough to keep one interested, but not so much that it became predictable. The supporting cast was marvelous, with each character bringing something important to the mix. Of particular note, Urbain Cancelier, as one of the good doctor's patients, played the grocer in Amelie, and this viewer thought how fitting he would wind up in therapy after Amelie got through with him!
June 3, 2010
Top Critic
