Friday, May 18, 2012

La Délicatesse / Delicacy

Nainen, jonka nimi on Nathalie / Nathalie [Swedish title]. FR © 2011 2.4.7. Films / StudioCanal / France 2 Cinéma. P: Xavier Rigault, Marc-Antoine Robert. D: Stéphane Foenkinos, David Foenkinos. SC: David Foenkinos - based on his novel (2009). DP: Rémy Chevrin. PD: Maamar Ech-Cheikh. Set dec: Jimena Esteve. Makeup: Thi Thanh Tu Nguyen. Hair: Jane Milon. VFX: Cédric Fayolle. M: Émilie Simon. S: Vincent Vatoux. ED: Virginue Bruant. Loc: Paris. C: Audrey Tautou (Nathalie Kerr), François Damiens (Markus Lund), Joséphine de Meaux (Sophie, la meilleure amie de Nathalie), Bruno Todeschini (Charles Delamain, le Directeur Général), Mélanie Bernier (Chloé), Pio Marmaï (François, le mari de Nathalie), Ariane Ascaride (la mère de Nathalie), Christophe Malavoy (le père de Nathalie), Monique Chaumette (Madeleine, la grand-mère de Nathalie), Audrey Fleurot (la secrétaire de Delamain), Marc Citti (Pierre, le compagnon de Sophie), Vittoria Scognamiglio (la mère de François), Alexandre Pavloff (Benoît, un membre de l'équipe de Nathalie). In French with some Swedish. 108 min. Distributed by Future Film with Finnish / Swedish subtitles by Janne Kauppila and ... Mas / Kajsa Wickström. 2K DCP viewed at Kinopalatsi 6, Helsinki, 18 May 2012.

Technical specs from the IMDb: Camera: Aaton Penelope, Cooke S4 and Angenieux Optimo Lenses. - Laboratory: Arane-Gulliver, Paris, France. - Film length: 2985 m. - Film negative format: 35 mm. - Cinematographic process: Digital Intermediate (master format), Super 35 (3-perf) (source format). - Printed film format: 35 mm (spherical), D-Cinema. - Aspect ratio: 1.85:1.

IMDb synopsis: A Frenchwoman mourning over the death of her husband three years ago is courted by a Swedish co-worker.

The directors Stéphane Foenkinos and David Foenkinos are yet another set of brothers to become film directors. There are many such brothers in the history of the cinema since Skladanowsky, Lumière, and Pathé... but no sisters!

A well made romantic comedy which has also a dimension of tragedy and aspects of satire. When it branches out to farce, fantasy, and whimsy, the touch is no longer assured.

An excellent Audrey Tautou vehicle. She gives a deeply moving performance as the mourning widow. The theme of the power of love ("thanks to her I can be the best version of myself" confesses Markus) is honestly felt. The character of Markus Lund is not a very apt portrait of a Swede, but it is an interesting invention that his clumsy sincerity appeals to Nathalie more than the slick routines of the French seducers. 

The movie has been shot on photochemical 35 mm film, and the étalonnage numérique has been successfully performed.

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