New York Film Festival - L'heure d'été (Summer Hours)

I very much enjoyed the new Olivier Assayas film L'heure d'été which screened the last two nights at the New York Film Festival. How could anyone not enjoy a story that involves Odilon Redon decorative panels and the Musee d'Orsee! Ok, Ok so those may be particular interests of mine (Redon is one of my favorite artists) and they weren't exactly the main point of the film but I still put them in the pro column!

I also really enjoyed the story of the family, particularly three siblings, who must deal with each other and their different opinions over what to do with their mother's estate. It was an issue that hit home for me since my own mother recently faced the same problem with her siblings. Apparently, French siblings have a reasonable discussion, go along with the majority vote and just find ways to cope with any disappointments they may have which is let's say slightly different from the New York Jewish way of negotiating.

The actors were all great in their roles, particularly Charles Berling as the eldest child who was left to deal with the details of the estate (as well as Juliette Binoche who plays his sister). However, the true star of the film was the mother's house filled to the brim with wonderful museum-quality decorative pieces (and, as is repeatedly mentioned, two Corots) and the beautiful gardens and grounds on which the house sat. To watch the house host the entire family, then play host to a gaggle of art dealers and then finally to be left in the hand of the next generation really told the tale of family and the changes that must inevitably be made by the passing of time. The film should certainly be seen by anyone interested in stories of family, art or desirable French real estate.