In Mia Hansen-Love’s “Things To Come” Isabelle Huppert plays
Nathalie Chazeaux, a philosophy teacher living in Paris whose life (as she
currently knows it) drastically changes. She discovers that her husband/fellow
teacher Heinz (Andre Marcon) is cheating on her, she experiences a death in her
family and a second edition of her philosophy textbook won’t be published by
the book company. Wow. That’s a lot to take.
“Things to Come” is a
mature, beautifully understated film about an intelligent, strong willed woman
navigating a crucial transitional period in her life—between domestic obligations/comfort
and the freedom to do whatever the hell she wants. This later stage is enticing
as well as intimidating. To go from a comfortable, modest life of routine and
obligations to no fixed routine or obligations at all is overwhelming, almost
like being reborn. Sometimes, too much freedom can be oppressive. The film
portrays Nathalie’s newfound anxiety and excitement with honesty and
playfulness.
Love seamlessly blends drama and comedy resulting in a film
that’s serious without being melodramatic (during these major, life altering
events the director shows incredible restraint) and lightly humorous without
trying overly hard to be funny--i.e strained and cliché jokes involving
Nathalie consuming pot brownies or going skydiving, like we would see in the
hypothetical cruddy American remake no doubt. Better yet, the film refreshingly
doesn’t try to shoehorn in a romantic sub plot (this would also be in that
cruddy American remake). Guess what: the key to self-happiness/getting over
your cheating husband does not always
involve immediately finding another mate. Ultimately the film’s focus remains
squarely on Nathalie and her personal, uncertain journey of (re) self-discovery.
Huppert is remarkable in the role, so remarkable in fact
that I wish I had a professor like Nathalie in college. She’s composed and
assertive, fully confident in her ability as a teacher, effortlessly witty and charismatic.
But she’s also not averse to expressing the sadness and anxiety bubbling in her
(I would probably be a mess in her shoes). Huppert give such a natural,
unassuming performance, it’s cliché to say I know but you really do forget she’s
acting. “Things To Come” isn’t groundbreaking but it’s pleasurable
to watch thanks to Huppert’s raw, nuanced onscreen presence and Love’s light,
thoughtful directorial touch.
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