【電影簡介】

安妮和喬治斯這對老夫妻已經80多歲了，他們都是退休的，有教養的音樂教師。他們的女兒也是一個音樂工作者，生活在國外。可是有一天，安妮突然中風，隨后偏癱，臥床不起，看上去，她和喬治斯的愛情，在某種程度上開始了考驗。

【音頻文本】

French-language drama film "Amour" is one of the two best films nominated at the 85th Academy Awards, matched only by Hong Kong director Ang Lee's fantasy movie "Life of Pi." Both films excel in almost every aspect of filmmaking, and personally I can find nothing to complain about in the best foreign language film.

Veteran actor Jean-Louis Trintignant and actress Emmanuelle Riva play a Parisian couple, George and Anne, in their 80s. They seem to lead an ordinary, reclusive but rather content life, and only occasionally venture into the crowd for a funeral or a concert given by their student and famous musician. However, their life of tranquility is suddenly interrupted by Anne's first stroke. Then an unsuccessful operation leads toher continual physical and mental debilitation. Meanwhile, George promises to never again send her to the hospital and takes care of her at home.

If you've seen director Michael Haneke's previous works "The White Ribbon" or "The Piano Teacher," you would be familiar with his talent to unsettle. In this piece, he bases the story on an identical situation inhis family, and therefore is able to reproduce with great patience and in extreme detail the life of an elderly couple under the grip of a terminal disease. "How to manage the suffering of someone you love?" – Haneke tosses out the question, but no one has the answer.

The bulk of the story takes place in a big, well-furnished but claustrophobic apartment in Paris. The couple may be well-off, but they have only each other to hold on to. Cinematographer Darius Khondji's skills enable viewers to perceive the quiet desperation surrounding the life of the elderly couple. Each shot speaks volumes about the suffocating force of aging. Trintignant and Riva, both in their 80s, put on great performances. Their secret is never to show unnecessary emotion. You may or may not notice the absence of background music. Either way, it attests to the success of the cinematographer and the actors. With all thesefantastic elements in his favor, the director unravels the unwelcome part of human life that no one dares to face or discuss.

Some would say it is a love story about an elderly couple who depend on each other to survive. But, in fact, it invites the audience to ponder moral questions regarding age and death. We should have faced up earlier to such realities in an increasingly aging society, although it is not too late to start now. On my scale from one to 10, I give "Amour" an 8.5.

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