Pensioners Nina and Madeleine have hidden their deep and passionate love for many decades, but their bond is put to the test when they are suddenly unable to move freely between each other's apartments.
In such a similar fashion to last year's Portrait Of A Lady On Fire, Two Of Us has provided one of the most unexpectedly powerful cinematic experiences of the year. Filippo Meneghetti has created a gorgeous minimalistic narrative display that feels more documentary than fiction.
This is a story that we have all seen and heard before but from a fresh new perspective, combining a "coming-out" LGBTQ narrative with the added nuance of the maturity of the protagonists. Barbara Sukowa and Martine Chevallier are the duo that makes this film such a masterpiece. In their late 60's and early 70's, the experience and acting abilities of Sukowa and Chevallier are evident to all that observe them. They are completely absorbed into their roles as Nina and Madeleine (respectively); there is not a question in my mind that I am watching two women that have formed a strong loving bond over the years. There are no actors in this film. There are only characters.
It is near-enough indescribable how well Sukowa and Chevallier fit together, that combination of a high calibre of acting with a well-refined script from Malysone Bovorasmy and Meneghetti, form a 95-minute piece about a couple that somehow explains their entire life up until that moment. This goes far beyond the fiery youthful passion and lust that most LGBTQ films choose to portray. There is an intimacy that speaks far more volume than any passionate kiss could dare try to convey. Every glance, every slight piece of physical contact, tells a story, and as a viewer, you absorb the depth of character with every action.
The film is a foreign language film that includes French and German, with English subtitles, but so much of the film is communicated non-verbally. As the film progresses, more of the story is communicated through the face and the eyes, and cinematographer Aurélien Marra does a magnificent job at capturing the emotions on display through close-ups and framing. This together with the aural landscape of the film, there is not a wasted moment. Every sound (or lack thereof) has a purpose, every movement of the eyes begs for its story to be told. The chemistry is so genuine, that it feels absurd to think that Chevallier and Sukova could part ways at the cessation of filming.
This is more than a film about the elderly, and this is more than an LGBTQ film; this a heart-breakingly intoxicating love story, that simply skips over the honeymoon phase of a relationship. So much of the story is visual, that the film is accessible even to those that hate subtitles. The film may revolve around maturer protagonists, but we all understand the appeal of being loved and having companionship. It may be an LGBTQ film, but we all understand and want to avoid the pain of rejection and disappointment, especially from family.
Two Of Us is a gorgeously bound emotional rollercoaster. From Chevallier's authentic non-verbal acting to Sukowa's graspable frustration and desperation, the obsession is real and the love is palpable. It is rare to find a film that can make you feel such a strong connection in such a short amount of time.
Two of Us is releasing in cinemas from August 20,2020