Beautiful and Intelligent... Excellent... even though it's just 3 people talking in an apartment

I've watched this twice on the Sundance Channel in the US with English subtitles. The first time I thought is was pretty good, the second time I thought it was excellent. Like with most subtitled films, a second viewing allows you to get more into the film, whereas the first viewing is often spent just trying to catch all the visuals and read all the subtitles.

Very intelligent and thoughtful, often philosophical, sometimes poetic and reflective, and rather verbose exploration of love, selfishness, respect, self-respect, pride, punctuality, relationship power, ideals, determination, willpower and especially about the choice between sticking to your ideals versus sacrificing them for love.

Bruno is a fussy young man who wants to hang onto his self-respect by living up to his ideals, even if it means losing the girl he really loves. Rosette is flighty young woman who lives for the moment, unfettered by any time restraints, and who is simply clueless about Bruno's inner struggle with their situation. Bruno's best friend Pierre is the only one of the three who can see both sides of the coin, and he strives to bridge the gap between the two.

A gorgeous film to look at, even though it consists entirely of three people in an apartment. The leads are stunningly attractive, the short is beautifully shot, and although it's mostly dialogue, there's some lovely and very effective piano music to bridge the gaps between the discussions. It's also well acted and directed.

I'm sure many in the non-thinking crowd would consider this short film boring, talky pretentious French crap, but we probably don't have to worry about that since most of those people will turn it off as soon as they realize that have to read subtitles with big words.

Excellent short film.

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

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The coming-of-age subgenre features personal growth, maturation, and self-discovery of a young protagonist as they navigate the challenges and transitions of adolescence into adulthood. These stories often revolve around characters experiencing pivotal moments, gaining new insights, and learning valuable life lessons as they transition from childhood to maturity.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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The romance genre features the theme of romantic relationships and emotional connections between characters. These stories focus on the development of love, desire, and intimacy between protagonists, often exploring the challenges, conflicts, and triumphs that arise in their relationships.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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A Curtain Raiser

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