Films in 100: Amour (2012)

In a new series of articles I will be posting 100 word film reviews of all the films I have seen over the past 12 months. I will post at least one a day until I am caught up and then continue as I watch films. The first is Michael Haneke's wonderful Amour (2012).

Amour (Michael Haneke, 2012)
Starring: Jean- Louis Trintignant, Emanuelle Riva, Isabelle Hupert, Alexandre Tharaud, William Shimell.

Fantastic. So simple, so painful. Truly wonderful. Charting how the love of a couple is strained as the health of one deteriorates, leaving the partner as carer. The performances are spot on. The depiction of death and decay is truly heart breaking, with motifs showing the slow breakdown of health and the increasing claustrophobia felt by all involved. This is shown in the sequences with the pigeon. I do not think I have ever experienced a film that has made me feel such extreme emotion, such intense grief. One of the best films I have ever seen, but not the most enjoyable.

5/5