Archive Analysis: "Summer Hours"

Summer Hours

Directed by: Olivier Assayas
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling, Jeremie Renier
Rated: Not Rated (Unofficial rating would be PG-13 for thematic elements)

Saturated with subtext and theme, the French film Summer Hours may be one of the richest films of the past decade. It's a slow, brilliant character study that feels like a Renoir or Bergman film made in the 21st century. While following the intersections of a close family who must deal with the death of a loved one, Summer Hours shows the affects time has on individuals, whether outlasting the significant events and people of your life, to the pain of seeing memories and broken promises fade away. Without giving us a defined opinion on these subjects, Summer Hours brilliantly opens our eyes that each of us will have to deal with this pain; we live in a world where death and memories are unfortunately interlinked. It's the balance of these experiences that may be it's greatest strength; it's tragic without being depressing, thought provoking without being outspoken, and riveting without being heavily plotted. Simply put, Summer Hours is a moving portrait of humanity's struggle with time in every stage of life.