Frot plays the titular character, Claire, a single woman in
her early 50s, working the night shift in a maternity clinic, who clearly loves
her job (and is good at it). She lives in
a nice but modest Parisian apartment with her son Simon (Quentin Dolmaire), a
medical student. On her days off, she tends a vegetable garden plot in the
suburbs. It’s a simple yet seemingly satisfying life; but changes are
afoot. Simon is in a serious
relationship and will soon be moving out. More significantly, the clinic will soon
be closing and Claire must decide whether she will move on to the new, high-tech
”baby factory” that is replacing it or go independent.
Then Claire gets a phone call and hears a voice from the
past: it’s Beatrice, the former mistress
of her father, who left him (and, not incidentally, Claire) thirty-five years
ago when Clair was thirteen or fourteen, and has not been heard from since - until
now. Beatrice (Deneuve) insinuates herself into Claire’s life - against Claire’s
wishes, initially at least. Her personality and style are, of course, the polar
opposite of Claire’s. She has lead a freewheeling, adventurous, extravagant life,
flitting from man to man, drinking, gambling, you name it, but now she needs
something from Claire.
This is the just the set-up, and I will avoid plot spoilers,
other than to note the obvious: inevitably, both of these women are changed by
their new relationship and circumstances.
On the positive side, The Midwife is worth seeing for the performances
of the two lead actresses. And, I should add, for the warm supporting
performance of Belgian actor Olivier Gourmet [The Son (2002), Two Days, One
Night (2014)], as Paul, a trucker who also insinuates himself into Claire’s
sphere. Deneuve, especially, is superb. I’ve not seen enough of her films to
judge, but several observers have commented that Beatrice is one of her meatiest
and best roles in a long time: a big, stylish, headstrong, emotionally
connected, wily, zaftig bon vivant, who can honestly say, I’ve lived the life I
wanted. Frot has the tougher assignment playing Claire – a careful, prudent,
sober and thus, let’s face it, duller character, a somewhat self-effacing
person who tends to put the needs of others first and personal pleasure last. Over
the course of the film, Claire is compelled to confront not just unwanted
changes but a realization that her own needs have gone untended for too long.
And she does change, subtly but importantly.
The problem, however, is that the film may be overly subtle
as well. Claire’s transformation is not particularly dramatic – because even at
the outset, she’s not unusually diffident
or buttoned-up and certainly not particularly shy; which is to say she’s not at
all an extreme case. And so, Claire’s blossoming, while seemingly enriching her
life, is not particularly remarkable and not that emotionally
stirring.
Still the movie is warm and rather sweet, when all is said
and done. If you’re a Deneuve fan, it is a must-see!
117 minutes
Not rated – no violence, a few scenes of adult sexuality;
and several scenes of actual live births
Grade: B
In French, with English subtitles
The Midwife is being
released to select theaters throughout the country over the Summer. On July 28th
in the SF Bay Area, L.A. area, NY metro area, and Florida; on August 4 in Houston,
Dallas, Denver and Sante Fe; and additional cities in subsequent weeks.
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