Amour
As I was watching Michael Haneke’s Oscar-nominated drama, another film about the ravages of illness on the elderly came to mind: Sarah Polly’s great 2007 film, “Away From Her.” That film also looked at the difficulties inherent when an older couple is forced to deal with heartbreaking reality. In the earlier film, the wife (Julie Christie, who won an Oscar for her role) suffers from Alzheimer’s; in “Amour,” Anne (Oscar-nominee Emmanuelle Riva) suffers a stroke, which leaves her nearly immobile. Her husband (Georges, played by Jean-Louis Trintignant) takes it upon himself to take care of her, against the recommendations of their daughter (Eva, played by Isabelle Huppert), who would rather not have her father carry this burden of care alone. He does hire a nurse to come in three days a week, but for the most part, it is Anne and Georges.
The emotional journey Georges goes through as he takes care of his wife is one I can relate to, because it reminded me of my own experiences in 2000, when my grandfather was dying of cancer, and he was in assisted living, while my mother and I visited him daily. It took a major toll on both of us, watching our loved one’s health deteriorate to the point where we almost didn’t recognize him. I’m suspecting Haneke, the director of “The White Ribbon,” “Funny Games” (both versions), and “Cache,” has went through something similar, because he nails every emotion these two experience in profound, devastating detail, leading to a conclusion that seems harsh, but, if you’ve gone through similar situations with a loved one, is actually an act of mercy. Haneke and his actors take us on a difficult trip through life and death, and the results are poignant, and impossible to shake.
