Juliette (Kristen Scott Thomas) is a woman with a hard shell; distant and withdrawn. After being away for some time she has returned to stay with her younger sister Lea (Elsa Zylberstein) who, with a young family, exciting job, and full life, seems her polar opposite.
It is a happy reunion, but one that is also tainted by the past. For 15 years Juliette has had no ties with a family who had rejected her, and knows nothing of Lea’s family: her husband Luc (Serge Hazanavicius), two young adopted daughters from Vietnam, and Luc’s live-in father.
The two siblings begin to rebuild their relationship and Juliette does her best to carry on with everyday life, searching for a job, entertaining her nieces, swimming at the local pool, even developing a friendship with one of Lea’s colleagues, Michel (Laurent Grevill), albeit one she keeps at arms-length.
But everyone has questions.
Lea’s friends, potential employers, her inquisitive young niece Lys (Lise Segur) all want to know where this beautiful elusive woman has been hiding for so long, and what she has been doing.
As circumstances surrounding Juliette’s long absence gradually unfold, painful secrets are brought to the surface and threaten to devastate her life all over again.
A profoundly touching story about isolation and human restoration, I’ve Loved You So Long is the debut feature of acclaimed novelist Philippe Claudel and was an enormous critical and box office success in France upon its release.
Both heart-rending and hopeful, Kristin Scott Thomas delivers one of the most powerful performances of her career in a film that will resonate with audiences long after they have left the cinema.
An enormous critical and box office success in France, I’ve Loved You So Long has been included in the official selection at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival and part of a special presentations line-up at Toronto Film Festival; ear-marked as a favourite by festival goers.
For your chance to win 1 of 15 double preview passes thanks to Palace Films email win@www.if.com.au with the subject heading ‘Loved’.
Theatrical trailer: http://www.ivelovedyousolong.com.au/
National release date: 26 Dec 2008