Amour: Moving examination of aging

Written by Mark Schumann, Father of Three
Thursday, 07 February 2013 13:34

As we savor Oscar season — and the best films of the year fill theaters — the Reel Dad checks out the nutritional value of the nominees. This week’s pick is the family drama, Amour, a nominee for Best Picture, Director, Actress, Original Screenplay and Foreign Language Film.

No matter how we may try, we cannot stop the passage of time. Every year we experience reduces how much time we can anticipate. Yet no matter how quickly our lives may pass, some chapters seem to put life on hold.

In a lovely apartment in Paris, Georges and Anne have devoted their lives to inspiring young musicians to excel. They beam with pride when they experience a performance of one of their students; they reflect with joy on the triumphs they have shared with these young people. Theirs has been a lifetime of togetherness, in their work, with their daughter, and in sharing daily tasks. Their apartment is adorned with the souvenirs of a relationship cherished and moments savored for all time.

But time goes on and, with the years, people age. As the film begins, Georges and Anne, now in their 80s, display some of the usual signs of aging. They move a bit slowly and forget a few things. Nothing serious. But when Anne begins to suffer a series of strokes, the inconveniences of age are quickly replaced by the realities. Gradually, she becomes less capable to take of herself, less able to remember specifics, less willing to be patient with her limitations. And, ultimately, as she begins the inevitable decline, the people close to her can only support, love and wait.

Amour takes its time, and sets its rhythm, to explore the lives of two people we wish we could know better. Our glimpses of George and Anne make us want to spend more time with them. And, like the people it features, Amour celebrates those who age as it explores the impact of illness and time. Without letting its story become melodrama, or its characters reach beyond authenticity, the film helps us prepare for change in our lives by helping us understand why change is natural.

Writer/director Michael Haneke pays loving tribute to these people in the film’s every frame. He never exaggerates their goodness, never apologizes for their weaknesses, never manipulates their fears. And he refuses to let the drama of the character’s lives overwhelm the realities of their routines. Haneke shoots the film in a simple, deliberate manner, without any visual tricks that could undermine the fundamental feelings of the piece. We simply feel we are lucky enough to spend time with two special people who cherish each other and will do anything to keep each other comfortable and happy.

Emmanuelle Riva, who became a star in 1959 in the landmark Hiroshima, Mon Amour, dominates the screen in a wondrous portrayal of the lovely Anne. She convinces us what a fascinating woman she is, explores the dimensions of her illness, and never resists revealing the full impact of her aging. Joining her on screen is Jean-Louis Trintignant who creates a moving, balanced George, the ideal counterpart to Riva’s magnetic Anne. Together they inspire us to believe every moment this couple shares.

Happy endings may only happen in the movies and, as Amour reveals, even the movies can’t protect people from the impact of aging. But movies can help us better understand the issues. 

Film Nutritional Value

Amour

* Content: High. The loving relationship between two senior citizens, and how illness and age challenge their realities, are beautifully explored a most meaningful film.

* Entertainment: High. Even with its somber content, Amour is so filled with love for its compelling characters that we are captivated from its opening moments.

* Message: High. No matter our age or situation, the insight of Amour can help us understand what we may observe and could, ultimately, experience.

* Relevance: High. Any opportunity to talk with older children about the realities of aging and illness is worthwhile.

* Opportunity for Dialogue: High. You and your older children will have a lot to consider as you absorb what this couple tries to endure.

(Amour is rated PG-13 for mature thematic material and brief language. The film runs 127 minutes.)

5 Popcorn Buckets

This Week’s Movie Menu

What’s on your family’s movie menu this week? 

Choosing what films to offer is a lot like planning what meals to serve. And all the choices on television make it easy to savor something at the same time you nourish the mind and heart. 

This week, broadcast, cable and instant on-line video offer a range of nutritious movies. Here are a few choices.

The cold days of winter can feel much warmer this week thanks to nutritious movies that are easy to access at home.

For the entire family, the delightful Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines takes us back to the early days of air travel when any adventure in an airplane was risky and fascinating. The simple story of a London to Paris air race, in 1910, offers a marvelous opportunity to savor vintage aircraft, observe beautiful scenery, chuckle at exaggerated characters and learn a bit about the early days of flying. Check out this family classic from 1965 at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, on Turner Classic Movies.

For older children, the moving drama The Perks of Being a Wallflower is now available on Amazon instant video before its release on DVD. Based on the novel by Stephen Chbosky, this moving story examines a year in the life of a shy young man who approaches his life with many questions, an abundance of fears and a catalog of expectations. By taking the time to invest in friendships, and learning to trust his instincts, he begins to understand the fundamentals of a happy life. This lovely, thought-provoking film deserved much more attention than it received when released in theaters in 2012.

Your children will also savor the experiences of the Joad family in the film version of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, showing at 11 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8, on Turner Classic Movies. We have learned, in the past few years, how hopeless life can become when economic realities overwhelm people trying to hold their financial and personal lives together. Back in the 1930s, when so much went so wrong for so many, the Great Depression changed the face of our country, and the lives of millions. Life was fundamentally different at this time when families had to take care of themselves — even more than today — with few social systems to provide assistance to those in need. 

Steinbeck, whose empathy for everyday people and their challenges rings through every word, had great concern for the people he felt the nation forgot. When he created this story of one family who, believing they can find better times, pack up and leave Oklahoma for a new life in California, he created an ode for the nation, as so many people found themselves making similar choices. Through their experiences, The Grapes of Wrath takes us into the lives, disappointments and hopes one family, simply trying to cope with all the pressures of a difficult time.

For lighter family entertainment, few musicals deliver the goods as joyously as Hello, Dolly! The classic musical, based on the stage hit, airs on Turner Classic Movies on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 8 p.m. When the film premiered in 1969, many criticized the casting of Barbra Streisand in the leading role. She was, at the time, much younger than other actresses who had played the part. But what she may lack in years she more than compensates in original approach to the character of an ambitious matchmaker who tries to arrange as many relationships as possible, including one for herself. Streisand’s vocal performances of the Jerry Herman are so electric we can easily forgive how humorous she may look when trying to woo Walter Matthau. Yes, it’s great to have Dolly back where she belongs, on screen!

Serving nutritious movies can be as easy as turning on the television. And be sure, as you watch together, to share what you observe, question and consider. Watching movies together can prompt meaningful family conversation.