There is something so romantic about a film shot in Paris. It is the latest backdrop for director Mia Hansen-Love’s newest work, ‘One Fine Morning.’ The title sounds more sublime in French, ‘Un Beau Matin.’ The drama focuses on the impermanence of life. It is a bittersweet truth that we must care for our aging parents. It also reminds us that a similar fate awaits us one day. Hansen-Love beautifully tells this story through the eyes of a single mom. The talented Lea Seydoux takes on a very unglamorous role as Sandra, a widow for five years, raising a daughter alone and holding a full-time job as a translator. If that wasn’t enough, she has the primary responsibility of ensuring her aging father gets the best care possible in a nursing home.
The opening scene sets the stage of what our protagonist is up against. Sandra is walking to her father’s (Pascal Greggory) apartment. Moviegoers will remember Seydoux in the James Bond films ‘Spectre’ and ‘No Time to Die’ as Madeleine Swann. She’s light years away from that glamourous role. She dons a cropped haircut, no make-up and no-frills jeans. Regardless, the natural beauty of the actress shines through this ordinary look. This is a sublime performance from Seydoux. There is no showy melodrama. It is simply a strong woman navigating her life. When she walks through a park, she has a chance encounter with an old friend named Clement (Melvill Poupaud). He happens to be an astro-chemist who prefers the term “cosmo-chemist.”
Sandra tells him, “I feel like my love life is behind me.” He proves her wrong with a kiss. The kiss leads to an affair. It is a big step forward for her. She was used to keeping her emotions at bay. Now her romance with Clement ignites the desire for intimacy. I like how Hansen-Love does not make it an easy relationship. The problem is that Clement is married with a son. Although he loves his time with Sandra, he feels guilty about abandoning his son. The film never lets up on Sandra’s responsibility for the care of her father. The story even goes into the struggles families have in finding good quality care at assisted living facilities in Paris. They deal with the same financial hardships as American families dealing with an elderly family member in the States.
As summer arrives, her daughter Linn (Camille Leban Martins) goes off to camp. Sandra gets to spend some quality time with Clement. They venture out of her apartment. I like everything about these scenes. It illustrates how their relationship is growing. It is not just physical. They go to a museum, walk around a lush green park and get some food. It makes you want to buy a plane ticket to Paris. It is such a romantic city. Although Sandra’s apartment is small, it has so much character. It’s a beautiful setting for a torrid love affair. The relationship reminds Sandra that she is still young and vibrant. It reminds her to embrace life. Seydoux’s performance is so magical. She shows grief but she also has moments of joy. Life is never easy but this film reminds us not to let grief overtake us.
‘One Fine Morning’ deals with love, loss and loneliness. The film explores a character dealing with the good and bad in her life. She doesn’t transform into a superhuman being. She simply becomes more engaged and more aware of the joys in her life. This doesn’t mean she isn’t sad about her father. It means that she has accepted it and is moving on to seize the most out of her life. There is always a bittersweet tone to the piece. Sandra is morning a person that is still alive. Her father has a form of Alzheimer’s disease that will eventually lead to his demise. There is a telling scene in this bittersweet drama. It is a nurse who tells her: “Make the most of being together.” ‘One Fine Morning’ is a must-see film.
