Ceux qui restent

[Those Who Remain]. FR (c) 2007 Les Films M / StudioCanal / France 2 Cinéma / Rectangle Productions. D+SC: Anne Le Ny. DP: Patrick Blossier - 1:2,35. Starring: Emmanuelle Devos (Lorraine), Vincent Lindon (Bertrand). Dvd (2008) by StudioCanal with French subtitles for the hard-of-hearing. Viewed 1 March 2008. A man and a woman meet at the cancer ward, his wife dying of breast cancer, her husband conquering his cancer of the colon. Total opposites, he is silent and serious, she is exuberant and frivolous, yet they share a devotion for life. (1) This is a film of actors, and Emmanuelle Devos and Vincent Lindon are convincing. (2) The film feels authentic in the handling of its serious subject-matter. (3) Interestingly, the cancer victims are absent, they are never shown. (4) Bertrand has a difficult relationship with his wife's teenage daughter, who never helps him. (5) Bertrand is oddly consoled by a postcard of snowmen and an animated film (A Close Shave) with Wallace and Gromit. (6) Lorraine's favourite song is "Where and When" by Bryan Ferry, which Bertand cannot stand. (7) This is a Paris film with original views of the city. (8) The cinematography is vibrant and full of life, and the dvd transfer is successful. (9) This is the story of a special friendship, but Bertrand does not want to continue it after his wife's death. (10) Bertrand's sister (played by the director) and her family with children bring another dimension to the valley of death: the ending is open, but we feel that life will go on. A deeply felt debut film worth seeing; there is humour and vitality in it, but such a melancholy subject with such a depressed male lead would perhaps profit from even more humour as a counter-balance.