By José Alberto Hermosillo
“Two of Us” is a beautiful, moving, meaningful, and unforgettable love story that defies expectations and prejudices.
When external beauty is nearly gone, love still clings to the lives of caring partners Nina (Barbara Sukowa) and Madeline (Martine Chevallier). These two retirees live in separate apartments across the hall from each other in the same building. The couple hopes to spend the rest of their lives in “A Room with a View” of the Tiber River in Rome, where they met years ago.
The duo’s plan begins with selling Madeline’s house and moving to Italy as soon as they can. But first, Madeline needs to “come out” to her children.
This intimate melodrama turns tormented and passionate when Madeline fails to achieve her goal and hides her secret at her birthday party.
Madeline’s passivity triggers a cascade of repercussions. Betrayal is unforgivable to her children, and it is neither an option for her lover, because hiding the truth is still a lie. Resilience is the only ammunition they have to keep their dream alive.
This Shakespearean drama reaches a climax when the couple’s right to be together is threatened. Carefully crafted, the French production is realistic, illustrating that Nina is not a “legal” member of Madeline’s family and therefore not accepted at the hospital.
The film’s narrative reveals an overlooked legal loophole in institutions where laws do not recognize same-sex partners as part of the immediate family permitted to visit patients in critical condition. The influential 2013 documentary “Bridegroom,” by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, highlights a similar situation in which domestic partners cannot see the person they love and are often barred from emergency rooms, even when the person is dying. A comparable case is depicted in the Oscar-winning Chilean film “A Fantastic Woman.”
Hard to conceive of and reinforce the social stigma, “Two of Us” is set in a small French Catholic town that isn’t easily accepting of a lesbian relationship, even though it is now the 21st century.
The new Italian director, Filippo Meneghetti, spoke to us at a virtual Los Angeles premiere hosted by Julianne Moore. He mentioned that this, his first film made in France, had a long development process.
“Two of Us” is the story of two people who want to spend the rest of their lives together. The Italian director pointed out that the realities of their everyday lives are portrayed most surprisingly and painfully in his movie.
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| Filippo Meneghetti, director of Two of Us, Rome. Photo: José A . Hermosillo. Festival in LA ©2021 |
Years ago, he observed a similar situation involving two important people. They introduced him to cinema, and he felt compelled to tell their story in gratitude.
While visiting another friend in Verona, where the tragedy of “Romeo and Juliette” took place, Meneghetti noticed two widows living in apartments across from each other. Upon closer inspection, he found their story resonant. It serves as a simple metaphor in which the lovers’ apartment doors never close.
He spent five years working on the expressive script with his co-writer, Malysone Bovorasmy. They consistently explored ambiguity. From the start, Meneghetti aimed to craft a unique atmosphere where nothing is precise, and everything feels like real life.
In Meneghetti’s story, each character has their own agenda. Madeline’s daughter refuses to accept her mother’s relationship with another woman. Her son questions his mother’s loyalty to her late father. The caregiver desperately needs money. Only the six-year-old grandson seems more accepting of his grandma’s relationship.
He said casting was challenging. When Meneghetti writes, he never knows who will play each character. He wanted two strong, professional actresses to star opposite each other. The cast was a blessing, as the group’s chemistry came together instantly. It took a lot of effort to secure funding for the film. Who would invest in a movie about two elderly women in love? Filming lasted thirty-one days.
Mrs. Sukowa’s portrayal is fierce, aggressive, and powerful. Her character is a well-traveled tour guide working in Rome. Madeline Girard, brilliantly portrayed by Martine Chevallier (“Farewell, My Queen,” “Tell No One,” “Blame It on Fidel”), is phenomenal. Her performance is stoic and breathtaking. Both actresses complement each other flawlessly.
Michele Menini’s soundtrack is stunning and subtle. The music naturally enhances the actors’ gestures, dialogue, and intentions. In the most dramatic moments, the instrumental is faintly audible, heightening the emotions. It contrasts with the dazzling Italian main melody, “Chariot,” sung by Betty Curtis, which plays during the passionate opening and concludes with a sudden, thrilling resolution.
The film is about love, resilience, and compassion between two exceptional individuals. “Two of Us” is an extraordinary story of love and resilience.
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