Amour
George Mavrothalassitis
Chef, owner Chef Mavro
Where and with whom did you see the movie?
Donna Jung (my wife), my friend Gary Okuda and his wife, Marlyn, saw it at Kahala Theater.
Overall, what did you think?
The slow pace of the movie grabs you from the beginning to the end. You almost forget to breathe. Beautiful movie, one of the best I have seen this year, including Lincoln, Moonrise Kingdom, Le Havre, Ariel, The Kid with a Bike … I am not the romantic type, and soap opera love stories bore me, but Amour is one of the most beautiful love stories I have seen at the movies. The acting is outstanding, and Emmanuelle Riva deserves the Oscar. Jean Louis Trintignant also deserves an Oscar but is not nominated. And, anyway, it is going to be difficult to beat Daniel Day Lewis.
Without giving away the ending, what was one of your favorite scenes?
My favorite scene was at the end when he tries to calm his wife, who is in pain. Georges told her his childhood story when he was in a summer camp. He had a secret code with his mother that if he was happy at camp, he would draw flowers on a postcard, and if he was unhappy, he would draw stars. And his card was covered with stars. Suddenly he notices that she was attentive and seemed to have stopped suffering.
On a scale of one to four stars, what would you rate this film?
★★★★
What did you think of the cinematography?
Beautiful – an intense, deep simplicity. Du grand cinema!
Was the message/theme clear?
The message was as clear as the title: an intense love story. How can you still love your wife so much after so many years and being both so old?
Did it remind you of any other work in film? Driving Miss Daisy, maybe – similar feelings, different story.
To whom would you recommend this movie?
To young people, to understand what love is all about.
Did any of the actors stand out?
Both of them. I also like the sincerity of the daughter, Isabelle Huppert.
Did you identify with any of the characters?
I hope I could have this kind of attitude and generous and unconditional love.
Did the soundtrack contribute significantly to the film?
Yes, immensely! Can’t go wrong with Schubert, Beethoven and Bach. Beautifully done without excess – the pieces are played at the right time. My friend Gary noticed how much all the sounds of creaking floors, running water and other small noises contributed to the mood of the movie.
Would you buy this movie when it comes out on DVD?
I don’t buy DVDs! I don’t want to be able to watch my favorite movies any time I want. To have the DVD of a good movie at home, it’s too easy!
What’s your favorite movie snack?
Popcorn and Coke! I love the pairing! The popcorn was freshly made last night, which made a difference.
On a different note, what’s new with you?
What I do for a living. The continuous pursuit of excellence, you never reach anything. Every day when you wake up it’s a new challenge! Right now with my young cooks I’m finalizing new recipes for the spring menu that starts March 19. Spicy ahi with uni aioli is tasting pretty good already!
