One Fine Morning (2022) Romance Movie Review
Filmmaker Mia Hansen-Løve is really good at showing the normal struggles we all go through but might not talk about much. In her movie "Bergman Island," a couple has some tension because of their jobs. In "Goodbye, First Love," the ups and downs of young love affect adulthood. "Things to Come" is another great film by Hansen-Løve where a philosophy professor deals with a crisis in her personal and professional life but finds a chance for something new.
Hansen-Løve's movies are deep and touching, making you think and feel in ways that not many films do. Her latest one, "One Fine Morning," is no different. It's about Sandra (played by Léa Seydoux), a widow taking care of her daughter Linn and her dad Georg, who's losing his mind due to an illness. In the middle of all this chaos, Sandra reconnects with an old friend, Clément, and they start a kind of on-and-off romance.
%20Romance%20Movie.jpg "One Fine Morning (2022) Romance Movie")
Sandra has a lot on her plate – translating, looking after her father, going on steamy dates, and taking care of her daughter. Her heart and attention are always pulled in different directions, and what she wants often gets pushed aside.
In "One Fine Morning," made by Hansen-Løve herself, there's a quiet feeling of sadness. No matter how hard Sandra tries in her relationships, she knows she'll have to say goodbye to her father soon. Her daughter is growing up, and Clément, who's supposed to be a distraction, has his own problems that make it hard for him to be there for Sandra.
Hansen-Løve doesn't make these events seem like big dramatic moments. Sandra hides her tears and steps away when things get too much, but she keeps going. Her work and being a mom don't leave much room for a big breakdown. The people she cares about are depending on her.
Just like Sandra, we all know what it's like to worry about our parents passing away or feel anxious about being alone after a breakup. Life often makes us keep going through tough times, whether we're ready or not. Léa Seydoux's acting in the movie perfectly captures that feeling of going through a busy day while holding back tears. She can express so much with just a few gestures or looks, like when she's deciding whether to text Clément or forcing a smile when visiting her dad who doesn't recognize her anymore. Her performance is beautifully sad yet strong as she takes care of two generations and opens herself up to the possibility of new love.
Mia Hansen-Løve, the director, teams up with cinematographer Denis Lenoir to match the visual style of the film with the story. The scenes in care homes for Sandra's father have different colors on the walls, but the harsh fluorescent lights make each place feel lifeless. On the other hand, scenes with Clément and Linn are full of natural light, giving a sense of hope. Depending on the season or the emotions in the story, these moments can have different colors, adding to the overall mood.
In "One Fine Morning," Sandra's struggles with family, romance, and work might hit close to home for many of us. Even if we haven't faced these challenges as intensely as she does in the movie, we can probably relate to the same struggles in our friends or colleagues. Hansen-Løve's films might seem unique at first, but they touch on common experiences of pain, insecurity, and loneliness without the big dramatic scenes. There's a quiet power to them, and they stick with us long after the movie ends.