8 only because it isn't "Citizen Kane.." smaller in size, smaller in intent, but large in the scope of its attention to detail within the maze of twisted morals and confused emotions we live in: we know something is wrong, even when we are not unhappy; we just don't don't know what it is. And we certainly don't know what to do about it without tearing down the castle.... The realism of this elegant, small film with its stunning ambiance centers around the pull of the pleasures of monogamy (home, safety companionship, having someone who knows how you like your eggs to scramble some up for you in the middle of the night) versus variety, danger, and of course the one that got away.
The face that appears in your head when your fantasies kick in, unbidden, is alas not that of the egg scrambler.
Unless it is in a fleeting moment of sadness, at having had to choose between being "bad" by societal standards, and being good, stable, true. As with Joanna in the film: she was quite right to be hovering in the corner, teary -eyed, as her husband found her at the last encounter in the film, which ended beautifully - the way such terrible, secret, silent conflicts of the heart, really end. NMB P.S. Another wonderful thing about this film that is contrast with most American films of similar genre, are the actual long, thoughtful, conversations that take place between and among the characters... interesting, evocative, moving... that establish that there are usually no villains and no victims, just decent, and in this case very bright people struggling with the realization that when one person in a couple gets what he or she wants, the other may not be ready for the closing of the door. NMB
The face that appears in your head when your fantasies kick in, unbidden, is alas not that of the egg scrambler.
Unless it is in a fleeting moment of sadness, at having had to choose between being "bad" by societal standards, and being good, stable, true. As with Joanna in the film: she was quite right to be hovering in the corner, teary -eyed, as her husband found her at the last encounter in the film, which ended beautifully - the way such terrible, secret, silent conflicts of the heart, really end. NMB P.S. Another wonderful thing about this film that is contrast with most American films of similar genre, are the actual long, thoughtful, conversations that take place between and among the characters... interesting, evocative, moving... that establish that there are usually no villains and no victims, just decent, and in this case very bright people struggling with the realization that when one person in a couple gets what he or she wants, the other may not be ready for the closing of the door. NMB