Don't listen to the negative reviews

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

There is a lot to love in Philippe Claudel's film 'I've Loved You So Long'. This is a completely character driven film which has little to do with plot and story progression. Juliette remains a fascinating character throughout the film due to her past actions. Claudel keeps the viewer intrigued about getting to know why she did what she did in her past life. The character moments of her bonding with her sister Lea after a long spell of alienation while Lea's husband remains somewhat apprehensive felt very natural and intimate. Juliette's scenes with Lea and Luc's daughters were also executed with the right amount of intimacy and complexity.Kristin Scott's Thomas' performance is probably the best thing in the entire film. She is playing a character who has not been able to forgive herself for her actions. The pain, the guilt and the suffering is completely visible in her eyes, her face and her expressions. She plays the role of a broken character who has been given an opportunity to start afresh after being released from prison, but Thomas' detached and restrained demeanour shows us perfectly that Juliette might have been released from prison, but she has not been able to get over her past and forgive herself. She slowly begins to loosen up as the film progresses to try to move on and restart her life. Elsa Zylberstein also deserves a mention. She puts a lot of humanity in the character of Lea giving her a sensitive layer.The direction is restrained and non-flashy which I think is the best way to approach a mature and immensely personal subject such as this. Claudel allows the actors/characters to take center stage instead of using directorial flourishes that draw attention. Once or twice, he will slowly zoom into a character's face to pick up a particular transition in expression or use a meticulously framed shot to imply a bigger theme. There is one distinctive long take in the film which is very well executed. We move from one part of the house to another in the uninterrupted shot and Claudel gently shows the transition of the mood from pleasant to awkward and back to pleasant again during that one single take. The stripped down, raw manner in which the main characters are explored is a bit reminiscent of Mike Leigh, while the awkwardness that engulfs certain other scenes are Haneke-esque.However, I think the film has its flaws too which are mostly in its script. There are a few individual scenes in the film that felt very weak and clichéd like the scene with the arm dislocation or the scene with the discussion on Dostoyevsky or even the manner in which a co-incidence is used to make Lea aware of the facts that led Juliette to do what she did in the past. These scenes felt rushed, underdeveloped and a bit out of place from the rest of the film. They don't damage the film completely, but they certainly do stick out in a big way.Overall, 'I've Loved You So Long' is a good film with a fantastic performance from Kristin Scott Thomas. The conflict and the theme of the film is very intimate and relatable. Philippe Claudel's direction is mature, but the writing in some scenes is a bit weak. But it certainly should be recommended.

Last night I watched this brilliant movie for the third time. I can't actually get enough of Ms. Kristin Scott Thomas' performance in this movie. She performs as a rich and complex character in this film. Cinema fans know her from her outstanding performance in "The English Patient (1996)" for which she was nominated as the best leading actress in Academy Awards. 12 years after that performance, in 2008, she beautifully played the role of a woman, better to say a human, who came out of the jail and struggled to be accepted in the society as well as in her own family. It's not just that, the movie has some sense of mystery and little by little the story behind Juliette's, Kristin Scott Thomas', actions and behaviours unfolds itself. She has her own weaknesses, strengths, fears and sorrows. Artfully, Philippe Claudel, the director shows every little details of her changing moods and emotions. I highly recommend this movie for anyone who loves to see a good French movie with some magnificent acting.

If you're in the mood for an emotional roller coaster and like to think deeply about controversial issues, than "I've Loved You So Long" is the perfect choice. Kristin Thomas, acting as Juliette, does a magnificent job portraying the lost, guilty, confused murderer that she is classified as. One scene that really stuck out was when she's yelling at her sister asking her why she is being so nice. This epitomizes her guilt and frustration with herself and the choices she's made.Juliette's sister, Lea, played by Elsa Zylberstein, shows the agony she's in with having to juggle both her sister and husband in the same house – who clearly do not start off on the best foot. Luc, the husband, labels Juliette as a killer not trusting her with his children but eventually realizes Juliette is a good person. This cast of actors/actresses works together wonderfully. Director Phillipe Claudel is not only a film director, but also a Professor of Literature at University of Nancy. Before teaching at the university, Claudel was a teacher in prisons. His experience there has shaped the plot for many of his short stories and novels, as well as screenplays. Claudel saw the effect of guilt and learned how not to judge people before you really know them. These endeavors have shown through into main themes of "I've Loved You so Long." Guilt and redemption are two prominent features in this film. It is clear that Juliette feels immense guilt for what she did, but at the same time she would do it the same if she had the chance. When her son died, Juliette died with him. Redemption is shown when people surrounding Juliette give her a second chance despite what happened years ago. She was able to get a job that led to a promotion. Throughout the film, Juliette finds redemption and the courage to face her past actions. Claudel made a wise choice in the soundtrack of this film. The guitar as the main instrument really added to the melancholy mood that the majority of the film was set in. I noticed this most during the scene when Juliette found out the parole officer killed himself, she went home to cry in her bed while the guitar in the background struck cords that matched her feelings precisely. On that same note, Juliette's make-up and clothing changed throughout the film to mimic her increasingly better mood. By the end of the movie Juliette had brighter clothes, less pale make-up, and smiled more often. Overall, I enjoyed "I've Loved You so Long," despite the slow pace of the film.

Philippe Claudel's literary character portrait premiered at the Berlinale in 2008 and tells the story of Juliette, a middle-aged woman who tries to find her place in society and reestablish contact with her family after having spent fifteen years in prison. Juliette arrives in Lorraine, France where she is reunited with her sister who is now married and has two daughters. Léa invites her to live with her family on temporary basis even though her husband feels uneasy by her sister's sudden arrival.French writer and director Philippe Claudel's concise psychological drama about a woman's mysterious past and challenging present, is an audacious and instantly engaging directorial debut, a substantial study of character and a distinct female portrait which examines themes such as trust, family relations, interpersonal relations, forgiveness, longing, loneliness, and grief in a clear and insightful way. The editing that occurs sporadic between the long takes creates rhythm and the instrumental theme song emphasizes the films essential atmosphere.The cinematography is a versatile variation of Kristin Scott Thomas portraits and with his acute filming, Philippe Claudel reveals the wide range of expressions in her face. In the role as the impenetrable Juliette, Kristin Scott Thomas delivers one of 2009s most memorable acting performances. The almost incomprehensible way she controls and balances the protagonist's emotional complexity, creates a level of intensity that no technical effects could have replaced and that becomes crucial to the films continuity. The dialog is sharp, French actress Elsa Zylberstein's supporting acting performance and the subtle realism in this universal independent film is notable.