My Rating: 3.89/4 (aka Definitely worth it)

One line summary: The evolution of a marriage punctuated by a viciously controlling husband.

The Deets: As I reflect on this movie, the more I like it, despite the growing uncomfortable intensity that squeezes you like a vice…until it releases. Told mostly through flashbacks, the story starts from the beginning of a couple’s meeting through their life together. The direction is deft and expertly edited; we get scenes soaked in the red of love, the blue of despair, and the green of envy. The husband’s outfits grow increasingly black as his essence is revealed. And of course, the luminous Virginie Efira (I also reviewed her in the excellent “Madeleine Collins”) is sublime and at the center of the film; she even plays identical twins as both sisters! This is not an easy movie to watch, but because it’s European, there is a relative lightness to the storytelling, a subtlety throughout; and the ending is perfectly French, leaving us a moment to almost exhale.

Perfect for: Lovers of French cinema generally, and if you want to be sucked into a tense and psychologically complex marriage movie.

Where to watch: It was just released on streaming, so you need to rent it, and you should (if you’re in the mood).

Food pairing: Start with a bowl of cherries. See what else you might need as the story unfolds.