French director Mia Hansen-Love’s 2014 EDM drama ‘Eden’ is based on her brother’s rise and fall as a Parisian DJ. Her latest film ‘Things to Come’ is a moving account of a philosophy teacher at a crossroads in her life. It’s a portrait of a middle-aged woman facing challenges that force her to re-evaluate her identity and self-worth. It’s partialy based on her mother’s experiences. Hansen-love’s talent lies in the way she lets scenes play out longer than expected. It allows for rich character studies in her films. Whether we want to or not, we all have to confront change in our lives. Loss can be scary or it can be viewed as freedom. Hansen-Love’s films are about the passage of time. Nobody can avoid time and that’s why her stories feel so real. ‘Things to Come’ beautifully captures a woman rebuilding her life out of loss.
The triumph of this film is that Hansen-Love never resorts to cheap melodrama. The main character Nathalie is dealt a heavy blow. Her husband, Heinz (Andre Marcon) leaves her after 25 years of marriage for a younger woman. There is no yelling or throwing objects across the room. Although she is stunned, she calmly looks at him and says, “I thought you’d love me forever.” It’s a heartbreaking moment for a woman that was comfortable in her life. She never lets bad news destroy her. She doesn’t drown her sorrows in alcohol nor run into the arms of the first man that comes her way. Natalie keeps moving on. When she walks, she walks with a purpose. She continues to teach her philosophy classes and along the way she is dealt other setbacks.
It’s a brilliantly understated performance from the French actress Isabelle Huppert. She brings Hansen-Love’s story to life. For mainstream filmgoers unfamiliar with her work, she is one of the most acclaimed actresses in French cinema. This year she is also garnering award buzz for ‘Elle.’ Although Huppert is in her sixties, her fiery red hair, green eyes and gymnast body continue to make her alluring. When her character faces more hardship, she confronts it head on. Similar to anyone’s life, she has good days and bad days. Besides dealing with her ex-husband, she must deal with her aging mother (Edith Scob) and publishers that want to make changes to her book. One pleasurable moment is when she reconnects with her former protégé, Fabien (Roman Kolinka). She confides to him, “I’m lucky to be fulfilled intellectually – that’s reason enough to be happy.”
Hansen-Love never takes ‘Things to Come’ into a predictable direction. In an American romcom, you would see Nathalie hop into bed with her former student. This is a woman in transition and for the first time the future holds freedom and new possibilities for her. It is her profession as a teacher and her intellectual pursuits that keep her grounded through turbulent periods in her life. Hansen-Love’s mother is the inspiration behind the lead character. Besides her passion for teaching, Nathalie enjoys reading books. When Heinz moves out, there are noticeable gaps on the bookshelves. It’s upsetting to her but she never lets it weigh her down. Huppert delivers a powerful and graceful performance.
Although Huppert has garnered her first Oscar nomination for ‘Elle,’ her moving performance in ‘Things to Come’ is just as compelling. If you have never seen a Hansen-Love film, make an effort to check out her latest work. She has developed a personal style to her filmmaking that is unique and vibrant. ‘Things to Come’ is a beautiful portrait of a mature woman in transition. It is now playing at an arthouse cinema near you.
