Sentimental Destinies (2000)
In late nineteenth century Charante, Protestant minister Jean Barnery causes local disquiet when he arranges a separation from his obsessive wife. He and his lover keep their love strong as the world changes around them.
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Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.
The acting in this movie is really good.
Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.
Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable
The film was sensitive, but disappointing. It was over-extended and in spite of the elements to a period flick being present -- set in a small village, a devoutly Protestant porcelain empire in Limoges, the Swiss Alps, and World War I -- it lacked the period movie breadth like how the Italian's would do it. Not even the beauty of Béart nor the shaky camera technique used throughout the movie could hold our attention for such a long time.Oh well, this was Olivier Assayas' first period film, a departure from his contemporary works. That's a valid excuse for the film, I guess.
"Les Destinees sentimentales" feels like it's bringing to life selected scenes from some beloved French family saga that it helps to have read, which is hard for non-Francophones as the 1936 novel by Jacques Chardonne isn't available in English. The look is delicate and beautiful (and it soothed my headache) with gorgeous costumes, settings and Impressionistic cinematography as it traces the intertwining lives, families, and businesses of wine growers and porcelain makers in Limoges in the first half of the 20th century. But as a family saga, I just kept thinking over and over how much better is "The Godfather" or even "Sunshine."The three sections, each about an hour long, are divided to indicate the changing interests of the central character -- to wife #1, then wife #2, then to running the family business (yes he almost says: "They keep bringing me back in!"). But whether it's the writing (as adapted by director Olivier Assayas) or the acting of Charles Berling, he just isn't commanding of our attention. As one gossipy cousin complains towards the end, first he was with one wife, then for no particular reason the second, then somehow he was obsessively running the family factory -- so what does he want? And her mind didn't even wander past the subtitles a few times like mine did, missing some plot points here and there.(originally written 4/20/2002)
I just saw this picture and it gave me the impression of Assayas trying to give us a symbolic message on globalization, French versus American markets, and at the end he delivers a movie about the film industry itself.As they say, do it for the French market!Cinematography is at its best, rhythm of images goes perfectly along character´s feelings at the moment.Beautiful ball sequence and very good explanation on ceramic and china industry at beginning of 20th century, breath taking swiss sceneries.I WW sequence is also very well done.Emmanuelle Beart and Isabelle Huppert are splendorous,La Huppert appears less but is much more intense.Also got the impression that novel had much more to offer than the 3 hours film version, but this is film, anyway, and script is script.Beginning and ending with a death scene, love is the only worthy thing in life.
after eagerly seeking out this film, i found myself totally bored..it was too long,had no movement..although very beautiful..but the beauty wore thin after 40 minutes..performances ok...but in the end dull,dull, dull..lots of pottery but not much else..