by Luanne Paul King

I’ve Loved You So Long

Kristen Scott Thomas.

Writer Philippe Claudel masterfully directed this film set in Nancy, France. In a brilliant performance, Kristin Scott Thomas plays a woman (Juliette) who has just been released from 15 years in prison where she had sparse contact with fellow prisoners and none with her family. Juliette waits in an airport for her younger sister Lea (Elsa Zylberstein) who has invited her to live with her and her husband Luc (Serge Hazanavicius), their two adopted Vietnamese children, and Luc’s father (Jean-Claude Armaud). Lea was a teenager when Juliette was imprisoned. Now she is a college literature professor. I was very moved by the subtle way Thomas portrayed Juliette’s effort to transcend the experience of her incarceration. Juliette and Lea find ways to relate but don’t talk about the past. Luc tells Lea that he doesn’t want their children to be alone with Juliette.

Slowly, Juliette begins to take part in family life. She helps her niece play the piano and befriends Luc’s father who cannot speak due to a stroke. She reads, visits art museums and attends movies with a colleague of Lea’s. Juliette succeeds in finding a job. These scenes are beautifully edited.

Then, unexpectedly, a heart-wrenching revelation from Juliette’s past becomes known. I feared the marvelous film might be morphing into a melodrama! Not to worry. The story’s succinct dialogue and outstanding acting prevailed. Everybody in the theater was stunned into silence. The film is one of the best I’ve ever seen. Kristin Scott Thomas’ totally honest acting is a miracle.

115 minutes. Rated PG-13 (parents cautioned). In French with English subtitles.

Note By Note: The Making of Steinway L103

Steinway & Sons describes this film as “the epic journey of a Steinway piano, from factory floor to Carnegie Hall.” Now available as a Plow Productions DVD, this independent documentary is directed by Ben Niles. The film is a beautiful homage to the skilled cabinet-makers, gifted tuners and thorough hand-crafters who loyally create the Steinway concert grand pianos, year after year.

I am delighted that this feature-length film also explores the relationship between musician and instrument and illustrates what makes each Steinway unique in this age of mass production and digitalization. We see that each piano journey is complex — spanning 12 months, using 12,000 parts, and involving the work of 450 craftsmen, some of whom came to the U.S. decades ago. This film is more than a loving celebration of craftsmanship. It’s also an ode to a dying breed of person who is deeply connected to working by hand — the unsung heroes spending long hours shaving wood, testing parts, tuning strings by ear and performing many other important tasks.

The DVD features several world-class artists including pianists Lang Lang from China and Hélène Grimaud from France, contemporary singer Harry Connick, Jr., and jazz greats like Hank Jones. My favorite scene is when Hélène Grimaud comes to the Steinway factory and plays on recently finished pianos. She sits among all the pianos and declares, “It’s magical.”

80 minutes. Not Rated.