By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
``Summer Hours'' has ``La Binoche'' written all over it: the celebrated French actress of many talents brings a small family movie that enables the viewer to instantly connect with the effervescent characters and feel part of the family as it deals with the passage of time.
In the film, director Olivier Assayas (``Paris, Je t'aime'') captures all things natural, beautiful and nostalgic ― a room warmed by the late afternoon sunbeam just before dusk, a vase of fresh summer flowers bound to wither and fade, berry-picking with one's grandmother but outliving her all too soon. Of course, those tender moments are fleeting, and life goes on, making way for new memories. Like Im Kwon-taek's ``Chukje,'' ``Summer Hours'' deals with death in the family as a celebration of life.
``This is a small budget film that we shot very quickly, and I had the pleasure of working with the magnificent actress Edith Scob. I've already worked with Olivier Assayas on `Rendez-Vous' and we shot the movie in a joyous, family-like atmosphere,'' Binoche told reporters Wednesday following the film's press preview in a Seoul theater during her first visit to Korea.
Elegant actress Edith Scob plays Helene, who has dedicated her entire life to the posterity of the artworks by her beloved uncle Paul Berthier. Shortly after her 75th birthday, she passes away suddenly, leaving behind the house a collection of art, antique furniture and fine objects. Her eldest child, Frederic (``L'Ennui'' star Charles Berling), insists on preserving his mother's legacy. However, this is not in the best interest for his siblings Adrienne (Binoche), a designer based in New York, or Jeremie (Jeremie Renier, ``Atonement''), who is in need of money for moving to China.
The film is a visual delight: In addition to the lush provincial gardens, viewers can indulge in the colorful panels by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, a broken figurine by Edgar Degas (a childhood accident), beautiful antiques by Louis Majorelle, unique vases by Felix Bracquemond and luxurious silverware by George Jensen.
As some of the household treasures become still life exhibits at a museum, one may be reminded that such seemingly lifeless items may have once held secret diaries, fresh flowers and fond memories (Binoche herself had an uncle on her father's side of the family that donated items to the Louvre). Another treat for art buffs is the sneak peak into the fabulous storage space and restoration lab of the Musee d'Orsay. In celebration of its 20th anniversary in 2007, the Paris museum provided generous support for the movie.
In theaters March 26. 100 minutes. All ages admitted. In French with Korean subtitles. Distributed by Guan.
Hypertheque Nada theater, at Dongsoong Hall in northern Seoul, is hosting a special retrospective of Binoche's works through March 25 as part of its Cine France 2009 program. Featured works include: ``La Veuve de Saint-Pierre'' (2000), ``Rendez-vous'' (1985), ``Les Enfants du siecle'' (1999), ``Decalage Horaire'' (2002), ``Mauvais Sang'' (1986) and ``Les Amants du Pont Neuf'' (1991).
The featured works from the 1980s and '90s, often considered Binoche's ``golden age.'' ``It was a very difficult period… I don't see it as a golden period. Of course there was joy and lots of creativity, but above all, there was, and still is, passion,'' she said, explaining that her recent debut as a dancer was another form of expressing herself and discovering passion.
The actress invited Korean fans to the screenings, saying ``there aren't as many cinephiles in France like there are in Korea.'' The program, she said, was an important means of cultural exchange. ``Before, the French Nouvelle Vague influenced Asian cinema, but today Asian cinema inspires French cinema. There needs to be a current that passes through (East and West),'' she said, adding that she is fascinated by Eastern aesthetics such as calligraphy.
As for Korean cinema, Binoche said she has met innumerable cineastes at the Cannes Festival and she is ``thirsty to know'' more about Korean films and is waiting to receive a box of a dozen or so DVDs.