Austrian director Haneke also wrote the touching and nuanced script for this simple but profound story about two people, in their eighties, whose lifelong love for each other faces the final and ultimate test of illness and death face.

George and Anne are two cultivated retired music teachers living in Paris.  While elderly, the couple is still deeply in love and continues to enjoy together their passion for music.  They live in a comfortable apartment filled with books, music, Persian carpets and a grand piano.  Despite their retirement they stay in touch with their former students and early in the film we see them attending the concert of their former student.

Then one day Anne has an attack which turns out to be the onset of debilitating physical and mental illness.  We watch with the discomfort and finally horror as George struggles with the increasingly difficult task of caring for his obviously much loved wife. The suffering of the couple is heart-rending all the more so as most of us have faced or will face similar situations.

Haneke speaking at the press conference said: "Once you reach a certain age, you have to contend with the suffering of someone that you love, a mother, grandmother, husband or wife. This is what have rise to this film."

The film focuses on the intimate world of George and Anne and their love as George struggles to keep his promise to care for Anne personally at home and not to put her into care.

The well meaning visits by those outside this intimate world are jarring and only serve to underline the intensity and suffering of the couple.  Alexandre Tharaud played as a cameo by the real life musician is a former pupil of the couple who has become world famous.  But his well-intentioned visit only serves to increase the distance between the couple and the world of the living.  Tharaud also preformed the Beethoven, Schubert and other music for the film's soundtrack.

Jean-Louis Trintignant as George and Emmanuelle Riva as Anne give performances that are perhaps the best of their long careers.   For two such distinguished actors this is praise indeed as Trintignant alone as over 100 films to his credit. 

Haneke tempted the actor back to cinema after a 14 year absence as Trintgnant has been devoting his time to the theatre.

Speaking at the press conference Tringnant said: "It's the first time in 100 films when I actually felt pleased to see myself on the screen.  Haneke is a very demanding director. It's very difficult."

Isabelle Huppert who plays the couple's daughter said she enjoyed working with Haneke even though the work was difficult.  She said: "My character represents life as opposed to the old couple who are now facing death."

Haneke said that the shooting of the film was not filled with sadness or suffering.  "It's very different to watch a film than to act in it.  When you are acting you are working, as a spectator you are moved by the emotions of the film."

Haneke is at the height of his career and the intelligence and level of profound mastery of filmmaking in unsurpassed.  After winning the Palm d'Or with The White Ribbon, Best Director for Hidden and the Grand Prix for The Pianist this just could be another win for Haneke.

 

Credits:

France, Germany, Austria

Director: Michael Haneke

Screenwriter: Michael Haneke

DoP: Darius Khondji

Production: Les Films du Losange, X Filme Creative Pool, Wega Film

Cast: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, Isabelle Huppert, Alexandre Tharaud