Clara Etmoi

A Beautiful, Intelligent, and Sensitive Contemporary Love Story
Arnaud Viard has written and directed a quintessentially French love story that simply has everything going for it. The dialogue is richly imbued with both light hearted comedic elements as well as radiant moments of verismo that make this little story one that, once seen, will be indelible in the memory of the viewer. This is a love story awash with all of the nuances of contemporary life in Paris - and in the entire world.

Antoine (Julien Boisselier) is a thirty-three year old actor, having given up his business career to pursue his dream, yet a young man without a partner. Serendipity strikes on the Metro as Antoine sees a shy woman his age Clara (Julie Gayet) and from the silence surrounding their exchanged looks it is obvious something will happen. Antoine demurely writes a note on his pad and without speaking shows it to Clara. Clara responds with a written message, and the game ends with Clara giving Antoine her telephone number! At a surprise birthday party that...

depends upon how you look at things...
and where you are in life. this move is heartbreaking. because its about a burgeoning love that faces what so many of us see as an insurmountable obstacle. antoine (beautiful) falls in love with clara (more beautiful), but its clear early on that antoine has issues with selfishness. its no wonder then when they find out that clara is hiv positive, he rejects her. in the months that ensue, he pines for her. how could he not. its clara. his dream woman. she is the most amazing woman that he could ever want to have and to love. and he cant let go of her illness. it asks of the viewer: how do you view this illness? do you think that it damages a persons value. this is why i titled this post as i have. its very easy to determine that you would do one thing or another if you are not faced with this situation. one cannot help but understand antoines fears: will i lose her, will i contract this disease too, will she get sicker and suffer before my eyes, rendering me helpless. will i fall even...

Julien Boisselier et Moi
Julien Boisselier gives a genuine performance as Antoine, an aspiring actor who falls in love with Clara, a woman he meets in metro.Reminiscent of " Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" (1964), the couple sings, dances on Parisian streets. But as their romance unfolds, at times lively, though in the background, Schubert's lovely melancholic Fantasia for piano four hands in F minor is introduced , waving in and out, giving us a taste of the biterness to come. Clara is HIV positive. The Antoine's transformation is captivating. What will happen to the young couple? Ending left open, as in real life...who knows. For classical music lovers, Schubert's fantazia four 4 hands, adds a special treat. Enjoy.

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