To celebrate the publication of her memoir, Fabienne (Catherine Deneuve), one of history’s most celebrated beauties (and Europe’s greatest actress), has invited her daughter Lumir (Juliette Binoche) — a successful screenwriter in her own right — son-in-law/“internet actor” Hank (Ethan Hawke), and young granddaughter Charlotte (Clémentine Grenier) to her chateau in France. Fabienne doesn’t want her daughter reading the glossy account, and rightfully so. When her child accuses her of fact-fudging, all the author can say is, “My memories, my book.” At any moment, this could have veered off the rails in the direction of Hollywood’s golden age of melodrama, with dialogue so ripe you could pick it. But those familiar with Hirokazu Kore-eda’s previous films (After Life, Our Little Sister, Shoplifters) can expect the same caring approach to humanism we’ve grown accustomed to, even though the canvas has broadened. (We never do learn what Fabienne wants to hear God say at the Pearly Gates, or see how the retake in question turned out.) It’s his first film set outside Japan, and his first to feature an all-star international cast, but don’t let it throw you. The director didn’t. (2019)
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