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| A Heart in Winter - a Romance in Facade.... |
"In speaking, one risks sounding stupid. Not speaking, one may appear intelligent."
"Maybe one is simply afraid...."
One of my favourite lines in the film, it underlines the relationship between Stephane and Camille as they try to meander a path towards a chance for love - unfortunately never as one, always in twain....
And thus it begins. A violin maker, Stephane (Daniel Auteuil), is introduced to his partner's new muse and girlfriend, upcoming violinist Camille (Emmanuelle Béart).
From a professional relationship tending to the strings on Camille's violin, the emotionless and reticent Stephane slowly and unwittingly draws the beautiful Camille into a web not of flame, but of an empty black hole.
All the passion in the world cannot ignite poor Stephane's cold, cold heart, and it is Camille's that is left ultimately shattered - not because Stephane would not receive her love - he does not know how....
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| The immaculate, the beautiful Emmanuelle Béart as Camille - enchantée.... |
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| And Daniel Auteuil is Stephane, the emotionless heart in winter.... |
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| André Dussollier plays Maxime, the butler to Stephane's and Camille's romance. |
I seem to have a thing for romantic films with unfulfilled, or unrequited love. The 1992 film, A Heart in Winter, has now topped the list with a tour de force in non-romance and no-end-result.
Not that it matters as it is the process, not the consequence, that engages us. The looks each gives the other, the distant pining, the expressionless Stephane and the emotionally frustrated Camille....
The story may be touted as a love triangle, but make no mistake about it, even if André Dussollier performs well as Stephane's business partner and Camille's initial love interest, the film is about Stephane and Camille.
The silence, the tension, the seemingly impassable void between them; the storm that brews when they do try to connect - the world just stops spinning and centres on Stephane and Camille whenever they are in the same room.
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| First Attraction |
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| Then, a walk in the rain.... |
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| And the last hurrah. |
As it did mine.
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| Alone again, naturally.... |
Exclamations for:
! Outstanding Actor: Some might argue that it is easy to play a role where little expression is needed. But it is the conveyance of an emotion in such little breadth of expression that takes a master to accomplish. Daniel Auteuil here does this exceedingly well - although if you were to ask me - I have no idea why. He just does....
! Outstanding Actress: But the kudos go to the ever lovely Emmanuelle Béart. She is the opposite of Auteuil. The way she juggles her feelings of desire, frustration, her own coolness, her slight smiles, her concentration in music, those soulful eyes, those lips, the warmth and passion she exudes, et al - it is simply beautiful to watch. I will freely admit I am somewhat biased in my adulation for Béart, but how can I help myself?
! Outstanding Chemistry: The entire film makes or breaks on the chemistry between Auteuil and Béart, so this is certainly worth a shout. Never have I seen such romantic tension between two characters who never really do make out. An excruciating, yet exhilarating, experience....
! Outstanding Actress: But the kudos go to the ever lovely Emmanuelle Béart. She is the opposite of Auteuil. The way she juggles her feelings of desire, frustration, her own coolness, her slight smiles, her concentration in music, those soulful eyes, those lips, the warmth and passion she exudes, et al - it is simply beautiful to watch. I will freely admit I am somewhat biased in my adulation for Béart, but how can I help myself?
! Outstanding Chemistry: The entire film makes or breaks on the chemistry between Auteuil and Béart, so this is certainly worth a shout. Never have I seen such romantic tension between two characters who never really do make out. An excruciating, yet exhilarating, experience....
