This is a surprising movie. It's more crime genre than you expect with Isabelle Huppert in cast, but much more French style than you expect from American director. First part of the movie was Chabrol-like (and it's a complement), second is more action but far from modern American action movies (that I don't like). This change is well made, it has reasons according to the development of the plot.
*** spoilers, including end of movie !! ***
The movie shows a few days that make a whole life for two main characters. Isabelle was lethargic, almost in a hibernation, living in a nunnery and later waiting for things to happen; now she feels she found the purpose of her existence, to fulfill the task she has been given by Holy Virgin, and starts living. At the end of the movie she succeeded in doing it, her possible lover is killed, she is left empty and seems emotionally dead. For Thomas the situation is even more extreme: suffering complete amnesia it's as if he was born on the beginning of the movie, and (physically) dies at the end. His death is absurd: though he was a criminal, ruining many lives, he is punished for crimes he (because of amnesia) doesn't even know he did. And it makes this execution as pointless as in Easy Rider or Blue Soldier.
Photography was better indoors than outdoors (restaurant in the beginning, Sofia and the rose, or empty room where Edward was tortured); good camera angles in country house when Edward looks for Thomas. In a border-reality movie like this some use of slow-motion or Hamilton-like soft photo could be expected, but maybe it would look to much like a dream (Isabelle) or nightmare (Thomas), or too profane, so the director didn't do it. Interesting use of carefully chosen objects, like a lamp in empty room: it seems to be the guy's only possession in a place he uses to make love, and now it is used for violence, for torturing.
* spoilers-free part *
I don't know how many people will enjoy this movie. It's not like old French crime movies (Delon, Belmondo, Ventura) or modern American action movies, so if you expect it, be careful. Maybe you'll like it, I did. But I like Chabrol and old film-noir movies, so if you're closer to my taste, and if you prefer visual beauty and mood instead of action and dynamic change of scenes, this could be a movie for you.
*** spoilers, including end of movie !! ***
The movie shows a few days that make a whole life for two main characters. Isabelle was lethargic, almost in a hibernation, living in a nunnery and later waiting for things to happen; now she feels she found the purpose of her existence, to fulfill the task she has been given by Holy Virgin, and starts living. At the end of the movie she succeeded in doing it, her possible lover is killed, she is left empty and seems emotionally dead. For Thomas the situation is even more extreme: suffering complete amnesia it's as if he was born on the beginning of the movie, and (physically) dies at the end. His death is absurd: though he was a criminal, ruining many lives, he is punished for crimes he (because of amnesia) doesn't even know he did. And it makes this execution as pointless as in Easy Rider or Blue Soldier.
Photography was better indoors than outdoors (restaurant in the beginning, Sofia and the rose, or empty room where Edward was tortured); good camera angles in country house when Edward looks for Thomas. In a border-reality movie like this some use of slow-motion or Hamilton-like soft photo could be expected, but maybe it would look to much like a dream (Isabelle) or nightmare (Thomas), or too profane, so the director didn't do it. Interesting use of carefully chosen objects, like a lamp in empty room: it seems to be the guy's only possession in a place he uses to make love, and now it is used for violence, for torturing.
* spoilers-free part *
I don't know how many people will enjoy this movie. It's not like old French crime movies (Delon, Belmondo, Ventura) or modern American action movies, so if you expect it, be careful. Maybe you'll like it, I did. But I like Chabrol and old film-noir movies, so if you're closer to my taste, and if you prefer visual beauty and mood instead of action and dynamic change of scenes, this could be a movie for you.