When I watched director Arnaud Desplechin's "Kings and queen", I was most impressed by the richness of its contents. "A Christmas tale" is also rich in contents but in a different way. Rather than multiple plot lines, the story evolves around a simple family reunion at Christmas. As the film unfolds, what starts as a blur comprising a group of strangers (to the audience) gradually develops outlines and shapes until at the end, what has been revealed in relationships and human nature is no less complex than in "Kings and queen". Instrumental to this marvellous cinematic experience is an ensemble of top-notch actors, with top-notch performances.
Catherine Deneuve plays Junon, the pivotal point of this ordinary dysfunctional (no oxymoron intended) family, a woman who years ago lost his 6-year-old son Joseph to a rare genetic ailment. After several decades, she now falls victim to the same disease, and has less than six months to live unless she gets a bone marrow transplant from a family member. One of the purposes of the reunion is to find such a donor. It turns out that only two are compatible. Junon, however, faces her predicament with calm stoicism and isn't even sure if she wants the treatment.
Jean-Paul Roussillon won a Caesar for Best Supporting by playing Abel, her supportive and understanding husband. He is also a firm rock and a safe harbour for family members (four children, their spouses and offspring) who are emotionally troubled.
The two older children, Elizabeth and Henri, had hated each other since childhood, partly because neither was compatible with Joseph to provide bone marrow transplant to save their dying brother. Their respective characters also flamed the antagonism. Elizabeth, played by Anne Consigny is serious and multi-talented. Henri, played by Mathieu Amalric, is the black sheep of the family, always obnoxious, a drifter and a womanizer. But it turns out that Henri is one of the only two compatible family members for the transplant. The other is Elizabeth's teenage son, Paul (played by Emile Berling), an introvert, sensitive young man and a schizophrenia patient.
Abel and Junon's other two surviving children are boys. Laurent Capelluto plays Simon, taciturn, reasonably well liked but undistinguished and still single. While Junon likes Henri least (not surprisingly), the apple of her eyes is the youngest son Ivan, played by Melvil Poupaud, handsome, fun-filled, happily married to beautiful wife Sylvia, with two lively little boys (played by Thomas Obled and Clement Obled). Sylvia, played by Chiara Mastroianni, then stumbles across a little secret that the two brothers had both been in love with her, and agreed between themselves that Ivan was to go ahead. While this does not change anything, Sylvia will now always wonder why is it that her life had to be decided for her, and how it would have been if she were allow to make a free choice. Her relationship with Simon takes a subtle change.
Contributing to the complex world of emotions and nuances is Henri's latest girlfriend Faunia, played by Emmanuelle Devos. As she is Jewish, she has never intended to spend Christmas with the family. But while initially reluctant, she ends up spending two days there before leaving on Christmas Eve to join her own folks. What's more, Faunia's open and honest personality brings a measure of healthy impact to his troubled family, particularly, Junon. Completing the ensemble is Elizabeth's husband Claude (Hippolyte Girardot) and another guest, an elderly lady who is an old family friend (Francois Bertin).
From the above summary, it can be easily surmised how immense the dramatic opportunities could be. This potential is fully realized by an excellent director and an impeccable cast. The only other thing I would add is that the entire tone of this film is cheerful, emotional moments notwithstanding.
Catherine Deneuve plays Junon, the pivotal point of this ordinary dysfunctional (no oxymoron intended) family, a woman who years ago lost his 6-year-old son Joseph to a rare genetic ailment. After several decades, she now falls victim to the same disease, and has less than six months to live unless she gets a bone marrow transplant from a family member. One of the purposes of the reunion is to find such a donor. It turns out that only two are compatible. Junon, however, faces her predicament with calm stoicism and isn't even sure if she wants the treatment.
Jean-Paul Roussillon won a Caesar for Best Supporting by playing Abel, her supportive and understanding husband. He is also a firm rock and a safe harbour for family members (four children, their spouses and offspring) who are emotionally troubled.
The two older children, Elizabeth and Henri, had hated each other since childhood, partly because neither was compatible with Joseph to provide bone marrow transplant to save their dying brother. Their respective characters also flamed the antagonism. Elizabeth, played by Anne Consigny is serious and multi-talented. Henri, played by Mathieu Amalric, is the black sheep of the family, always obnoxious, a drifter and a womanizer. But it turns out that Henri is one of the only two compatible family members for the transplant. The other is Elizabeth's teenage son, Paul (played by Emile Berling), an introvert, sensitive young man and a schizophrenia patient.
Abel and Junon's other two surviving children are boys. Laurent Capelluto plays Simon, taciturn, reasonably well liked but undistinguished and still single. While Junon likes Henri least (not surprisingly), the apple of her eyes is the youngest son Ivan, played by Melvil Poupaud, handsome, fun-filled, happily married to beautiful wife Sylvia, with two lively little boys (played by Thomas Obled and Clement Obled). Sylvia, played by Chiara Mastroianni, then stumbles across a little secret that the two brothers had both been in love with her, and agreed between themselves that Ivan was to go ahead. While this does not change anything, Sylvia will now always wonder why is it that her life had to be decided for her, and how it would have been if she were allow to make a free choice. Her relationship with Simon takes a subtle change.
Contributing to the complex world of emotions and nuances is Henri's latest girlfriend Faunia, played by Emmanuelle Devos. As she is Jewish, she has never intended to spend Christmas with the family. But while initially reluctant, she ends up spending two days there before leaving on Christmas Eve to join her own folks. What's more, Faunia's open and honest personality brings a measure of healthy impact to his troubled family, particularly, Junon. Completing the ensemble is Elizabeth's husband Claude (Hippolyte Girardot) and another guest, an elderly lady who is an old family friend (Francois Bertin).
From the above summary, it can be easily surmised how immense the dramatic opportunities could be. This potential is fully realized by an excellent director and an impeccable cast. The only other thing I would add is that the entire tone of this film is cheerful, emotional moments notwithstanding.