I watched this last year and it left very little impression on me.
The film, according to director Ira Sachs, is based on a 1962 Indian (Bollywood) film by director Satyajit Ray called Kanchenjungha.
This film is based on a family vacation in Sintra (Portugal), where a family gathers to learn about the life-altering event in Frankie's life. She's a famous French actress facing her own mortality, while surrounded (at her request) by family, friends, lovers, ex-lovers, and so forth.
With a wonderful cast from several countries (English, French, and American), the film is a slow meander through the streets of Sintra, while we meet and learn a bit about each character, their life challenges, and how they relate to Frankie. It's just that it doesn't flesh out the supporting characters' roles, because there are too many of them and not enough time in a feature film, so we get a taste of what's going on, but really fail to connect with anyone, including Frankie.
Isabelle Huppert is a marvel and a gifted actress, but even she seems disconnected from her own character, almost as if she's phoning it in. Case in point, a scene in the forest between her and Marissa Tomei, where Frankie has a seizure seemed like amateur hour. Surprising from an Oscar nominated (and robbed!) actress of her caliber, but I blame the writing/direction.
Overall, the cast is wonderful, but the film fails to deliver. That's why an average rating of 5/10 on here is not shocking.
See it for the cast and the scenery, but don't expect much as far as a truly moving story is concerned.
The film, according to director Ira Sachs, is based on a 1962 Indian (Bollywood) film by director Satyajit Ray called Kanchenjungha.
This film is based on a family vacation in Sintra (Portugal), where a family gathers to learn about the life-altering event in Frankie's life. She's a famous French actress facing her own mortality, while surrounded (at her request) by family, friends, lovers, ex-lovers, and so forth.
With a wonderful cast from several countries (English, French, and American), the film is a slow meander through the streets of Sintra, while we meet and learn a bit about each character, their life challenges, and how they relate to Frankie. It's just that it doesn't flesh out the supporting characters' roles, because there are too many of them and not enough time in a feature film, so we get a taste of what's going on, but really fail to connect with anyone, including Frankie.
Isabelle Huppert is a marvel and a gifted actress, but even she seems disconnected from her own character, almost as if she's phoning it in. Case in point, a scene in the forest between her and Marissa Tomei, where Frankie has a seizure seemed like amateur hour. Surprising from an Oscar nominated (and robbed!) actress of her caliber, but I blame the writing/direction.
Overall, the cast is wonderful, but the film fails to deliver. That's why an average rating of 5/10 on here is not shocking.
See it for the cast and the scenery, but don't expect much as far as a truly moving story is concerned.