In Praise of Love

:"This article is about the feature film. For the Terence Rattigan play see In Praise of Love (play)Infobox Film
name = In Praise of Love


image_size =
caption = French Theatrical Poster
director = Jean-Luc Godard
producer = Alain Sarde Ruth Waldburger
writer = Jean-Luc Godard
narrator =
starring = Bruno Putzulu Cecile Camp
music =
cinematography = Julien Hirsch Christophe Pollock
editing = Raphaëlle Urtin
distributor =
released = May 15, 2001 (Cannes Film Festival) October 16, 2001 (United States)
runtime = 97 minutes
country = France Switzerland
language = French
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 1:246196
imdb_id = 0181912

"In Praise of Love" (French: "Éloge de l'amour") (2001) is a French film directed by Jean-Luc Godard. The black-and white and colour drama was shot by Julien Hirsch and Christophe Pollock. [imdb title|id=0181912|title=Éloge de l'amour.]

Godard has famously stated that, "A film should have a beginning, a middle and an end, but not necessarily in that order". This aphorism is illustrated by "In Praise of Love (Éloge de l'amour)."

Plot

The first half of the film, shot in black and white, relates the story of a frustrated love affair involving a young Parisian scriptwriter struggling to create a "project" about love.

Half way through the film we are taken back to a period that is about two years in the past. This section is shot in saturated colours employing digital video and involves a meeting with the mysterious young woman who fails to connect with the young writer.

Cast

* Bruno Putzulu as Edgar
* Cecile Camp as Elle
* Jean Davy as Grandfather
* Françoise Verny as Grandmother
* Audrey Klebaner as Eglantine
* Jérémie Lippmann as Perceval
* Claude Baignières as Mr. Rosenthal
* Rémo Forlani as Mayor Forlani
* Mark Hunter as U.S. Journalist
* Jean Lacouture as Historian
* Philippe Lyrette as Philippe, Edgar's Assistant
* Bruno Mesrine as Magician
* Djéloul Beghoura as Algerian
* Violeta Ferrer as Woman 1
* Valérie Ortlieb as Woman 2

Critical reception

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 53% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 70 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/in_praise_of_love/ |title=In Praise of Love - Movie Reviews, Trailers, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=2008-02-06 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 62 out of 100, based on 27 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/inpraiseoflove |title=In Praise of Love (2002): Reviews |accessdate=2008-02-06 |publisher=Metacritic]

The film critic for "The New York Times," A.O. Scott, while praising the film also found its anti-American content polemical. He wrote, "In Praise of Love," it must be said, is the most elegant and coherent feature he has made since the mid-1980's. His visual command -- of the velvety shadows of black-and-white 35-millimeter film and the thick, supersaturated tones of digital video -- still has the power to astonish, and his debonair gloom remains seductive. But to continue with the notebook analogy, the decorous prose, graceful penmanship and impressive paper stock cannot disguise the banality of what is written." [ [http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B05E3D9123FF930A25753C1A9679C8B63 Scott, A.O.] "The New York Times," film review, "The Melancholy World Weariness of Godard's Twilight Work," October 13, 2001. Last accessed: December 28, 2007.]

Awards

Wins
* Valladolid International Film Festival: Jury Special Prize, Jean-Luc Godard; Tied with "Va savoir"; 2001.
* Fajr Film Festival: Crystal Simorgh, International Competition: Best Film, Jean-Luc Godard; 2002.

Nominations
* Cannes Film Festival: Golden Palm, Jean-Luc Godard; 2001.
* Valladolid International Film Festival: Golden Spike, Jean-Luc Godard; 2001.
* Swiss Film Prize: Swiss Film Prize, Best Film (Bester Spielfilm), Jean-Luc Godard; 2002.

References

External links

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* [http://www.mrqe.com/lookup?%5E%C9loge+de+l'amour+(2001) "Éloge de l'amour"] at Movie Review Query Engine.