french films > Changing Times

Changing Times

Changing Times

cast: Gérard Depardieu, Catherine Deneuve, Gilbert Melki

year: 2004

colour: no

certificate:

director: André Techiné

runtime: 98

There's an extraordinary sense of warmth to André Téchiné's new film which comes not only from the powerful Moroccan sunlight that fills almost every scene, but even more from the tremendous rapport between the director and his actors. Gérard Depardieu plays Antoine, an engineer who's been sent to Tangiers to oversee a construction project. But his real reason for coming is to re- establish contact with Cécile (Catherine Deneuve), a woman he loved and lost 30 years before. For her part, Cecile has created her own arrangement with her Moroccan husband, Nathan (Gilbert Melki), a quiet understanding that makes few demands on either of them. Add to the mix Samy (Malik Zidi), Cécile and Nathan's son, who returns home from Paris with Nadia (Lubna Azabal), a single mother. Techiné allows each actor the space to fully explore their characters' dilemmas, carefully delineating the difficult process that will lead each to make a kind of leap of faith that could change their lives. Zidi was nominated for the César for best promising actor.

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