Another Family

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No, not some Lifetime TV special. This time it is "Next Summer" with Philippe Noiret, Claudia Cardinale, Fanny Ardant and Jean-Louis Trintignant.
When talking about Noiret, the word that comes to mind most is "lovable". No matter how many times you see him in the movies, every time is a short love afair. Most great actors have that "sameness" about them, making them immediately recognizable, but not stopping them from being fundamentally different in different roles. Noiret is from that group of most significant French actors who are completely natural, and whose acting skills are so apparently unlimited that they look totally at home in any role. This group is like the Dutch painters of the 17th century - they are ALL great, just to different degree. Even if the movie is just so-so, you still enjoy it if Noiret is on the screen - such is his power.
Cardinale playing the role she was born to play - that of mama. Simple role, it seems, and with her limited acting abilities just as well. She is simply there to add color and flavor to the film, and that she does well. One can say she is simply a less offensive Sophia Loren. But by being less offensive she is also less impressive in her almost complete lack of raw sex appeal. She is your mama.
Ardant? She is definitely far less developed compared to her later roles in Elizabeth or Ridicule. Compared to those she almost looks like a teenager - angular and rough. No mistake there, she is a quintessential woman in every gesture, every glance and word.
And Trintignant... ah, Trintignant... mention his name and my mother-in-law is gone for five minutes. Me? I liked his earlier roles better, him being drier and yes, unfortunately, younger. There is something in him getting older that doesn't excite me, unlike the trully great ones getting older, when they are only getting better and better. He seems to be shrinking and fading away. And that is 1985! I don't think he had ever gotten to the lever of his performance in the Conformist again. But even if that is all true, he is still not some Martin Sheen, he is a true actor and that shows.
These four definitely dominate, but the rest of the crew is wonderful too. They all work together exceedingly well, even in small episodes, and that makes for a very smooth, consistent and enjoyable movie. And even if the final twist is a bit artificial, that doesn't matter, it is completely inoffensive. Things do happen this way in real life.
Watching this movie is like sitting in the middle of a beautiful room in a great museum - you can't appreciate every great painting from that distance, but you feel the overall atmosphere and there is no doubt that what surrounds you is true art.
Did I say we enjoyed it? My warmest recommendation.

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Topic - Another Family - Victor Khomenko 06:29:58 07/06/00 (3)

Re: Another Family - Richard Jura 07:52:00 07/06/00 (2)

Re: Another Family - Victor Khomenko 08:38:12 07/06/00 (1)

Re: Another Family - Richard Jura 08:53:16 07/06/00 (0)

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