Let the Sunshine In (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Juliette Binoche gave one the best-ever performances by an actress in Krzysztof Kieslowski’s film ‘Three Colors: Blue’ so I will watch her in pretty much anything she does.

I usually don't care for French films but this very acceptable

I,liked this item.

Good!

It is a series of intense conversations, all involving the luminous Juliet Binoche and a person in her circle. Only a cynic would say the talk goes nowhere as if that is negative description. Of course, the talk proves ineffectual to realize happiness. J.B.'s wants a total experience of romantic love: intimate depth, absolute fidelity, physical fulfillment, etc. Her character lives like Shelley's persona in EPIPSYCHIDION: "I rashly sought in many mortal forms that shadow of my ideal." If your goals are so high, you will stumble into many affairs but your "ideal" will prove to be elusive. In the closing scene, in a delightful monologue, Gerard Depardieu as a psychic (!) gives her encouragement and caution in equal measure, and tells her to cultivate or await A BEAUTIFUL INNER SUNSHINE (the film's brilliant French title). This ending is not a resolution - it is a re-focusing of her quest. She is faithful to a desire that may never be satisfied, but she, as the psychic tells her, she must be OPEN to surprise, chance, fate or simply the "pursuit of happiness." There are no guarantees that even her sincerity will result in true love. But she is faithful to her belief in a perfect love. This film deserves that mis-applied title - ADULT FILM - because it honestly portrays adult experience. Brava, Juliet!! Brava., Claire!!

I adore Ms. Binoche and treasure her performances in films like BLEU and DAMAGE. But in this minor epic of self-indulgence we simply get to watch her having ultimately pointless encounters with a series of men. [It's like LA RONDE For One.] The script is banal and the direction non-existent...except in the last scene, where the director had so little trust in her material she has the credits run through the final dialogue. Having run out of classics to restore, Criterion is clearly scraping the bottom of the cinematic barrel.

While the acting in this film is very good, I was not impressed with the film as a whole. It dragged, and I became very impatient with the main character and her inability to get on with her life. She's a lonely woman, separated or divorced from her husband, who throws herself into one doomed relationship after another hoping to find love. She puts up with the men who treat her badly, and pushes away those who are kind. Very frustrating to watch.

This was ordered as a gift, we did not discover it was unplayable, on any player, until weeks later and since we did not keep the original packing slip we cannot get a replacement or refund. Very disappointing. KEEP THE PACKING SLIPS! Lesson learned.