This film is extremely tedious...it took me several days to get through it. What is most annoying about this picture is the character of Martin. I gave him a chance to find himself through Alice. When he melts down in Spain, I said to myself, well lets give him a chance to sort himself out. Since he gets himself locked up in an asylum, it is up to Alice to sort out the root causes of Martin's problems. She does this by visiting his family, who are not terribly pleased with her visit. But she does all the heavy lifting for Martin anyway, however unpleasant.
By the time she gets back she gets him out of the asylum and offers him a challenge. She challenges him to be happy and to be with her, and to finally make a break with his past. Our dear Martin, when finally given a chance to start anew with the beautiful Alice and their unborn child, literally bolts away and sprints to the police station to turn himself in. The end.
Martin is one of the most pathetic characters in film history. He has no character arc. He doesn't learn anything. All he knows how to do is brood and run from things. I really wanted to strangle him. Juliet Binoche is wasted as this lovely, caring woman who offers pure unconditional love to this idiot. All for nothing...completely in vain.
Dreadful.
By the time she gets back she gets him out of the asylum and offers him a challenge. She challenges him to be happy and to be with her, and to finally make a break with his past. Our dear Martin, when finally given a chance to start anew with the beautiful Alice and their unborn child, literally bolts away and sprints to the police station to turn himself in. The end.
Martin is one of the most pathetic characters in film history. He has no character arc. He doesn't learn anything. All he knows how to do is brood and run from things. I really wanted to strangle him. Juliet Binoche is wasted as this lovely, caring woman who offers pure unconditional love to this idiot. All for nothing...completely in vain.
Dreadful.