"Summer Hours" *** (out of ****) Filmmaker Olivier Assayas has gained a reputation as being pretty bold and daring. His films are made outside of mainstream convention. He is probably best known for the action film "Irma Vep" (1996) which starred his ex-wife, Maggie Cheung. He also directed Asia Argento in "Boarding Gate" (2007), which I reviewed on here. And he was the director of "Demonlover" (2003).
His latest film "Summer Hours" (2009) could have been directed by a different person. It is not as experimental and edgy as his previous films. It is a movie for art lovers.
I don't know how the typical Assayas fan will react, but, as someone who is not a typical fan, I think it is the best thing he has made that I've seen.
"Summer Hours" revolves around three siblings; Adrienne (Juliette Binoche), Frederic (Charles Berling) and Jeremie (Jeremie Renier). Their mother, Helene (Edith Scob) has passed away. The children's uncle was a famous painter. Helene kept the her house as a sort of museum dedicated to him, where she showcased his work. Now that she is gone the children must decide what to do with all of the paintings and whether or not to sell the house.
Of the three children only Frederic still lives in France. Adrienne lives in New York, while Jeremie has a job with Puma in China. The three are rarely together, except to celebrate their mother's birthday. She is the glue which keeps the family together. But what will happen after she is gone?
And that's the question "Summer Hours" is most interested in and the result of her death. As one might expect now that the mother is gone the children no longer see any reason to continue to come back to France when they have lives in other countries. Two of the three siblings decide to sell the house and donate all the art to museums to avoid a hefty estate tax.
Olivier Assayas seems very interested in telling a story concerning the generations. It is a story about roots and traditions. Helene would often tell her grandchildren that the house will be around when they have children and they can continue traditions which she has started with them. But the children, like most modern age people, have no use for tradition. They see no importance in keeping up customs. They don't cherish their time with their grandmother. And the children don't seem to care much either. But there is a universal fact in life we all know. You only begin to realize the importance of things after it is gone. Will that happen again?
"Summer Hours" is pretty somber and monotone. I didn't think there were any dramatic shifts in tone. There are no heart wrenching moments. Assayas is a bit more subtle. Thinking over the film in my mind it seems more impressive than when I watched the film in the theatre. During the beginning moments I wished it would have been more emotional. I kept thinking about Andre Techine's "My Favorite Season" (1996) with Catherine Deneuve and Daniel Auteuil as a brother and sister who must cope with the lost of their mother as family secrets are revealed. "Season" I think it a modern masterpiece, "Summer Hours" is a decent film.
Of the three siblings I think the one I related the most to was Frederic. He is the one which is the most reluctant to sell the house. He doesn't want to lose the memories he has of the house and his mother. He is sentimental. The other two just seem too caught up in the moment and their lives. They don't have time to think about anything else and the consequences of their actions. The Frederic character I think goes through the most emotional range. He is the most complex of the siblings.
I don't know how the public will react to this film. As I said it is not typical of Assayas' other films. But I like the film's ideas and its message. It has some nice realistic human moments between the brothers and sister, though not quite as realistic as "A Christmas Tale" (2008). One of the most realistic holiday movies I've ever seen. Plus I have to support Assayas since he is half Hungarian. I'm just kidding. Assayas is Hungarian but it doesn't matter to me one way or the other. I didn't like his "Boarding Gate" or "Demonlover".
The film managed to earn one Cesar Award nomination (the French Oscar) for "Best Supporting Actress" (Edith Scob). Hopefully American audiences won't forget about the movie as it gets lost in the shuffle. It is a small movie but it has big rewards.
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