Nina and Madeline are secret lovers, both from a town in the South of France.
They've been hiding their romance, which feels especially saddening as they are both in their seventies and should be living life as they choose.
But there are as many complications and conflicts as lovers might face at any age, with the societal views on lesbian relationships causing additional pressures.
The pressures lead to Madeline suffering a seizure. She can no longer speak, and therefore she can no longer tell her family about Nina. The story broadens into a look into the way Madeline's adult children view her - not as a person in her own right, but as a mother and wife who was there to serve. With her now unable to speak, they speak for her.
The movie is beautifully shot, but the story was so engaging, I mostly forgot to notice this, which is the sign of a story well told.
They've been hiding their romance, which feels especially saddening as they are both in their seventies and should be living life as they choose.
But there are as many complications and conflicts as lovers might face at any age, with the societal views on lesbian relationships causing additional pressures.
The pressures lead to Madeline suffering a seizure. She can no longer speak, and therefore she can no longer tell her family about Nina. The story broadens into a look into the way Madeline's adult children view her - not as a person in her own right, but as a mother and wife who was there to serve. With her now unable to speak, they speak for her.
The movie is beautifully shot, but the story was so engaging, I mostly forgot to notice this, which is the sign of a story well told.