Director:
Writers:
Hirokazu Koreeda, Léa Le Dimna (adaptation)
Stars:
Japanese director Kore-eda’s (AFTER LIFE, THE SHOPLIFTERS. LIKE FATHER LIKE SON) first foray into a film shooting France in French with French stars outside his homeland of Japan sees mother and daughter played by Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche. The pair come together after the mum, an actress of many films has written her memoirs in whcih she is the ideal mother.
Daughter comes to town with husband played by Ethan Hawke and daughter in tow. Family resentments and the past re-surfaces. The film also comments on art imitating life. The film feels and comes off as total fluff with a few amusing lines, particularly those written for Deneuve.
Hawke is not given much to do and it shows. Kore-eda looks totally out of place in this really mediocre work from an artist who can do much. much better.