If You Don't, I Will - Mathieu Amalric

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Arrête ou je continue" )

directed by Sophie Fillières
2014

A comedy with some poignant moments or a drama with some laugh out loud moments, IF YOU DON'T, I WILL benefits from the easy chemistry of Emmanuelle Devos (GILLES' WIFE) and Mathieu Amalric (VENUS IN FUR) who have shared the screen a number of times and believably embody a couple in layers of interplay that range from the affectionate to the resentful. After fifteen years, the marriage of Pomme (Devos) and Pierre (Amalric) has become toxic with ever more frequent miscues and misunderstandings engendering hurt feelings and doubt. On leave from work after the removal of a benign tumor and attempting to embrace a healthier way of life with yoga and weekend hiking - with the lackadaisical participation of Pierre - Pomme begins to suspect her husband is just going through the motions and is actually having an affair with gorgeous TV meteorologist Mellie (Joséphine de La Baume, KISS OF THE DAMNED) despite assurances from her best friend (Anne Brochet, ZAZIE DANS LE METRO) that it is all in her head. She also feels displaced by her teenage son Romain's (Nelson Delapalme) serious relationship with Simone (Julia Roy) as well as a cleaning lady to regularly straighten his apartment in her stead. During one miserable hike, Pomme tires of arguing and decides to stay in the forest with the supplies they have packed for the day (more than usual, so she may have been considering it earlier). Pomme's journey of self-discovery is rather aimless as she spends more time adapting to her immediate surroundings and only fitfully reinventing herself to get out of awkward situations. Meanwhile, Pierre hides Pomme's absenece from her son and their friends as he tries to wrap his mind around Pomme's decision which seems to be less about getting back to nature than getting away from him. By the time Pierre returns to the forest in search of Pomme, she may have rediscovered her independence (no matter how lonely it is).

Eric Cotenas

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Theatrical Release: 5 March 2014 (France)

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DVD Review: Film Movement - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the Review!

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Film Movement Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:42:18
Video	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.88 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate
Audio	French Dolby Digtial 5.1; French Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
Subtitles	English, none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Film Movement Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 Edition Details: � Interviews: � - actor Mathieu Amalric (16:9; 4:39) � - actress Emmanuelle Devos (16:9; 10:56) � - director Sophie Fillières (16:9; 13:18) � Biographies � Theatrical Trailer Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 1:56) � Bonus short film 'Driving Lessons' by Elodie Lélu (16:9; 13:57) � Film Movement Trailers DVD Release Date: April 7th, 2015 Amaray Chapters 12

Comments

Film Movement's dual-layer DVD features a progressive, anamorphic presentation of the feature that suits the dull city settings and the lusher forest scenes (with a little more grain and noise during the night scenes). The Dolby Digital 5.1 track is generally front-oriented with surrounds utilized more in party scenes and the forest atmospheres (a stereo downmix is also included). The optional English subtitles are free of errors and even attempt to convey the shakier grammar of the scenes in which the main couple communicate with their American yoga teacher.

Amalric appreciates how the film explores how two characters end up in a toxic relationship rather than passing judgment on one ses while Devos - citing her past work with Fillières - discusses how the characters usually rate "high on the misunderstanding scale." Fillières talks about how the comedy genre allows for the exploration of such misunderstandings in relationships. Besides the trailer and filmographies, the disc includes the usual Film Movement bonus short film: in this case, Driving Lessons about a seventeen-year-old girl who discovers that she is pregnant moments before being forced to take grandmother along with her on a driving lesson.

The disc also includes trailers for 2 AUTUMNS, 3 WINTERS, FOR A WOMAN, and LINES OF WELLINGTON.

- Eric Cotenas

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