A husband (paul-emile) recounts his infidelity apologetically to his wife. We only somewhat believe his regret, it seems rehearsed - fair to say, I found him dislikeable from the start. He complains of no money, so she contributes before sending him away. He has been living a double life with a younger woman, they have children together. After the woman dies, the wife is being encouraged by a priest to be charitable towards him and the illegitimate children, she has no problem helping the three innocent daughters.
She is his wife after all, and sees that as a binding obligation. She talks of fulfilling her duties, this is not to honour him, but to honour the holy bond. She agrees to take them all in, as they all need a mother figure. He has mentioned he is unsure of his paternity to the youngest - such is the life he has led - but it is the youngest that clings onto him when the wife comes to collect them.
Our central character's journey revolves around her responsibility to be dutiful and her urge to live her life. Interestingly, this kind of conceit plays well set in the last century or prior, but wouldn't work in the same way in the modern day. It reminded me of Scorsese's Age of Innocence in that sense.
Although it often has a warm feel visually, it is a cold feeling film. It is very measured in its aesthetic and very reserved in it's tone. This kind of film relies so heavily on the performances and nuances, which are all good at the very least. It is beautiful looking and beautifully shot. I especially liked the interspersed shots of seasonal weather showing the passage of time.
3.5 out of 5
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