Toute Une Vie (And Now My Love)

Starring:Marthe Keller, AndrÃ© Dussollier, Charles Denner, Carla Gravina, Charles GÃ©rard, Gilbert BÃ©caud, Sam Letrone, Daniel Boulanger, AndrÃ© Falcon, Nathalie Courval, Judith Magre, Annie Kerani, Maria Pia Conte, Pierre Edeline, Jean Franval, Gunilla Friden, Pierre Fuger, Marie-Pierre de GÃ©rando, Angelo Infanti, Lilo
Director: Claude Lelouch
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Description

Internationally renowned director Claude Lelouch intimately explores destiny and true love in this romantic delight. Admired by movie lovers around the world, this fascinating film encompasses a variety of filmmaking styles and illustrates the 20th century through the intertwined lives and destinies of three generations. Marthe Keller (Marathon Man) is magnificent in multiple roles, and André Dussollier (Amélie) shines as her soul mate. A film that can be enjoyed again and again, Toute une Vie is fated to be one of your favorites. Academy Award® Nomination: Best Original Screenplay, 1975.

Customer Reviews:

My all time favourite.......2007-01-26

I first saw this film in London in the '70s and loved it then. The DVD release has preserved it, although I would agree about the ending. The additional scenes were unnecessary. As they said in Mozart ... "too many notes".

And Now the 20th Century........2005-07-16

Marthe Keller stars in "And Now My Love," a sweeping examination of French life during the 20ths century. The film opens in black & white, tracing the beginnings of film and cinema. A multitude of stories are told in brief snippets before the focus settles on one family - a French Jewish mogul and his daughter (Marthe Keller). A parallel story is interspersed into the action as well, telling the story of a young criminal, Simon (André Dussollier), who later discovers photography and filmmaking. The story builds toward a rather predictable climax, but with some unexpected stops along the way, including a bizarre trip to 1990.

Director Claude Lelouch, who is still making movies today, is considered one of the geniuses of French cinema, and this film is certainly impressive. I particularly appreciate his music selections - along the way, the music tells perhaps a stronger story than does the actual plot. Ultimately, "And Now My Love" is truly a filmmakers' movie; it reminded me of "8 ½" and "Day for Night" in that respect.

French films of this period often focused on politics, workers' unionizing, and class - "And Now My Love" is a model of that theme. As a result of the material's focus, I didn't particularly enjoy the film; however, I respected its vision and execution. Everything about it is top-notch; the directing, acting, and cinematography particularly deserve praise. In addition, the screenplay, which was written by Lelouch and his long-time collaborator Pierre Uytterhoeven, was nominated for an Oscar. I just didn't enjoy the plot and themes explored. Viewers with a special affinity for European politics of this era will likely enjoy this movie more than did I. If you really loved movies like "Z" or "Weekend," then you'll probably adore "And Now My Love."

A Man and A Woman.......2005-03-22

Claude Lelouch's "And Now My Love" is the story of two people. One who has nothing but wants everything and one who has everything but wants nothing.

Simon, has been in prison twice, one for theft and once for making pornographic films, he then decides to go straight and make conventional films, to great success. Sarah, was born in luxury. After her father's death she has so much money she doesn't know what to do with it. Money or men do not bring her happiness, only problems. In movie terms these people were made for each other.

"And Now My Love" could also be described as the story of the 20th century. It starts off in the early 1900s and we meet Sarah's grandmother and mother. Than the Simon character is introduced. It goes through much of the events of world history including WW1 & WW2, Kennedy's assassination, Vietnam, Marliyn Monroe's death and the Nixon administration.

I could see why some would not like this movie. They may feel "And Now My Love" is too political. Lelouch is injecting his beliefs on us too strongly, too forecefully. This also happened to Jean-Luc Godard's "Tout va Bien". But I disagree up to the point where I'd call both films masterpieces. One of the reasons I like both films so much is because they have ideas and stick to them. They are about something. And that's what the best films do. They have an opinion - there's nothing wrong with that. Whether I agree with people like Lelouch or Godard I find immaterial. You don't have to agree with a film or book 100% to respect what it has to say. Just because some may disagree with the philosophy of Descartes or Hume doesn't mean they are ignorant. Or is Freud stupid because you find Carl Rogers more stimulating? I don't think so. It takes a lot more than that. Say, oh, I don't know, lying about Iraq? (Just kidding)

One of the film's flaws is it goes on too long. The movie is 2 hours and 30 minutes. It could have been 2 hours and still be just as pleasing, charming, intelligent, enetertaining, and emotionally involving.

Claude Lelouch, for those who are unfamiliar was quite the craftsman. Not to imply he's not now. Have you seen "And Now Ladies & Gentlemen"? It's just that he no longer draws much of an audience or conversation. He has though made some great works including "A Man & A Woman", "Les Miserables" and this film.

Bottom-line: One of the most pleasing films I've seen by Claude Lelouch. A movie with lots of ideas and a definitive viewpoint. Should please those with an open mind.

And I think the ending is still charming!.......2004-04-20

I, too, had only seen the American "video" version (not sure what version that would be, as I understand there to be more than "two" versions of this film) and was all jazzed by the final meeting in the airplane ending. But let me say that I think the "future" ending that everyone is all riled up about is quite charming and harmless. I mean, the set design is most impressive and there must be a cast of hundreds. And the music by Francis Lai is most appropriate: a show-y, operatic, future opus played out in its entirety without dialog.
So, vote one viewer here who thinks the "future" ending is darn cool and a welcome "addition" (though, again, I am not sure that this is even an "addition", but part of the original French version, which should be preferred).

DVD Version Disappointment!.......2004-01-04

My absolute all-time favorite film, which I've watched countless times over the last 20 years (taped from a televised version from the Bravo channel). Nothing could surpass the story of the inevitable meeting of the two primary characters of the film. And when they finally do meet - it has been a moment that has always given me the cold chills (in a good way).

With that said, this new DVD release is a thorough disappointment. Claude Lelouch, with all his lifetime of experience of film making has inexplicably chosen to restore nearly 20 minutes of footage that was edited out of the version that was generally released on video tape years ago. Thus making this current DVD version an over-bloated affair, ending in a mind-numbing 10 minute "life-in-the-future-unless-we-do-something-about-it-now" sequence. Sure, you can give some allowances that this film was a product of its time (originally released in 1974). But for Lelouch to self-indulgently insert back footage that completely destroys the momentum of what should be that "cold-chill" scene - well, I think I've said enough. Suffice it to say, a good film editor is worth his or her weight in gold.

Other "restored" scenes are fairly short, and don't really detract from the film; however the new English subtitles supplied with this release are questionable.

Product Description

Germany released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: French (Dolby Digital 2.0), German (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Subtitles), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SYNOPSIS: The movie follows the lives of a woman and a man starting from several generations earlier. The story spans a whole century and several continents. SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu,

Toute une vie (Original French ONLY Version)

Average customer rating:

Toute une vie (Original French ONLY Version)
Director: Claude Lelouch
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

The movie follows the lives of a woman and a man starting from several generations earlier. The story spans a whole century and several continents.

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