Summary
Monsieur Ladmiral is an ageing painter who lives alone in his country house, cared for
by his housekeeper, Mercédès. Every so often, his son Gonzague comes
to visit him with his young family. One late summer Sunday in 1912, the customary
visit is disturbed by the unexpected arrival of Ladmiral’s unpredictable daughter, Irène...
Review
Whilst this may not be Bertrand Tavernier’s greatest work, it is film which leaves a lasting
impression, particular for those of a nostalgic disposition. It offers a captivating
portrait of an early 1900s family sharing a lazy Sunday afternoon together. The
detail lies not in the film’s plot, which is noticeably lacking, but in the depth of feeling
shown in the characters. This is a film whose sole premise is to engage and charm
the patient viewer. By the end of the film you feel that you know each character
in the film personally, indeed that you yourself belong to the family.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this film is the way in which it captures the
present, the here and now, and relates it to times past and future. The film’s characters
are happily wrapped up in the present, enjoying each other’s company, making the most
of their very short time together. Only infrequently, in moments of quiet reflection,
is this rapport with the present breached by memories of a halcyon childhood, or tainted
by fears of future grief.
It contrast to much of modern cinema, which simply bombards its audiences with drama and
spectacle, it is a pleasant change to experience a film such as this which gently invites
us to stop and reflect on life.
© James Travers 2001
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