A very intelligent dialogue. Perfect choice and direction of actors. An in-depth analysis of everyday situations, almost non-transcendental, where artistic merit lies in sobriety and elegance. The love, the disagreement, the superficial calm, the internal whirlpools ... everything is being intuited by the spectator, who has an essential ally: music (a real character that translates us the intimate states of the protagonists). Perfect camera direction. A small, subtle, almost intangible jewel like life itself.

This film is not for everyone, but it is in my top 20 of all time (that has Inception as number 1, if you were wondering).There's so much in this film that I don't even know where to start. It's a love-triangle of sorts. It's a game of one-upmanship. It's the lack of bro-code. It's love, it's envy. It's two people at the top of their game, a virtuoso violinist and her equivalent in the luthier business.This film is like instrumental music. There are so many interpretations and they're all equally right.A top violinist, Camille, falls in love with her luthier, Stephane, despite her having a boyfriend in his businessman of a partner, Maxime? Or is it simply the attraction of top professionals to each other? Stephane says it was just a game to see if he could steal her from Maxime, just for the thrill. But why was Camille attracted to him? Why was this beautiful, talented woman attracted to Stephane? She's irresistible to anyone, but not to him. Maybe she wants what she cannot have.Stephane is not just unmoved by her throwing herself at him, he pushes her away. Although it is not said in the film, Stephane appears to be autistic. He is indifferent to Camille's interest towards him, has no feelings of friendship towards Maxime, and only feels emotion towards his mentor who was severely ill and dying. Stephane is so "heartless" that he was left to assist his mentor in euthanasia, while no one else could.Stephane is an autist in a non-autistic world. He is not understood and people constantly accuse him of faking it, of being a sham. Camille said "no one is like this" but he is. He isn't acting. Everything he does is logical and makes sense. He's a professional at the top of his profession. He has a protégé doing an internship. He has a business partner in a shared venture and then his own private business. He has normal conversations. He enjoys music.It is everyone else who appear mad in his eyes. Camille for throwing her relationship for nothing. Maxime who attacks his friend and loses his partner over nothing. His mentor's rocky relationship with his wife. Stephane is sane and calm, living a life without highs or lows. That's what no one else gets.Ironically the only time Stephane attempts something illogical and non-autistic, the game of stealing Camille's heart, that's the only time that everything backfires or completely falls apart. Winning the game cost him his business and non-friendship with Maxime, he lost his friendship with Camille and got yelled at, screamed at and hit in public.There are films with random things added by checklist to reach certain demographics. This is not one of them. Everything is interconnected like Celtic knots. The music thread runs through the film, as a soundtrack and as the plot. Stephane repairs violins, that's how he meets Camille, he attends her rehearsal and recording sessions. He loves music and her music. She admires his professionalism and enjoys his attention. When things fall apart, she jeopardizes her career, almost risking the cancellation of a tour. Everyone is connected to everyone, there are no loose threads or random sub-plots.Sautet builds a world to tell this story. The only sad thing is that it ends so soon. This is a must watch film. 10/10.Sadly, this great film is very difficult to get. The DVD is low quality and is region-locked. The film is not available on Blu-Ray. Not on Netflix. Not on Amazon or iTunes. It is available in iTunes France, but you have to have a French credit card to buy it. It's insanely complicated to get this film. The rights owners should do something to make it a tad easier.This film has an amazing soundtrack that was released on CD. Now it has disappeared. You could look for it used, but it's hard finding it. It's not on Spotify or iTunes.

Emmanuelle Beart shines as a classical violinist in France and she begins a relationship with the owner of a instrument repair shop. Shortly thereafter, the owners partner also becomes involved with her. The two men have radically different personalities, one is extremely introverted and the other extroverted.Of course, Beart believes she can change them and they continue a love triangle. The soundtrack is beautiful, making use of Ravel's compositions.This theme has been done many times but Beart's captivating screen presence makes this one time well spent.

I have to say that I love Daniel Auteuil. I think he was one of the world's finest French film actors. Anyway, he plays a man who falls in love with a woman. Odd isn't? he plays a violin maker or repair guy. French films tend to do a lot on relationships between men and women. In this film, Daniel is after Emmanuelle Beart's character. It doesn't really matter because we know where this film is heading. Unlike American films on relationships, the French films do tend to take their time in exploring and not exploiting the women and men like meat. This film is a great example of how good acting, solid directing, and decent writing can allow the audience to understand the characters with greater depth including their flaws and attributes. It's a pity that American film directors don't reply in the same way to the audiences to day. French films would be far more popular among single American women if we had more access to it at the local cinema.