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The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Be prepared: though rewarding, this movie may be difficult to watch.The narrative structure is that of a linear tale: While Claire (Isabelle Carré) progressively loses memory and delves into oblivion through Alzheimer's disease, Pierre (Bernard Campan) comes back to life and, thanks to his love for her, oppositely recovers his memory, after the car accident that left him amnesiac and made him responsible for the death of his wife and kid. So their destinies are crossing: as she slowly loses herself, he will recover but unavoidably lose her.The subject matter is parabolic. It not the disease or mental illness that is at hand, but the path of everyone's life; love is a blessing, but what is loved will be lost. Neither is it sad nor depressing, that is just so. "Always look on the bright side of life" sung the Monty Pythons in 'The life of Brian'.The atmosphere of the movie is itself far from depressing: direction is voluntarily simple, sometimes even naive, helping to create a sense of familiarity on the viewer's side. Characters and dialogs, especially from ill people in the first part of the movie, are rather funny as well as touching. What may be difficult to bear is the gripping feelings, that will catch the viewer early on and leave him or her completely drenched by the end of the movie. Yet can the experience be renewed, retaining all its intensity. Along with first-rate acting, that makes this movie a timeless masterpiece.As of Zabou Breitman, the director, I do not know what she lost in her life. But I am very grateful to her for sharing it with us in such a way.

This is, no contest, one of the finest movies to come out of France in the last five years and it would have been a grave miscarriage of justice if Isabelle Carre had not won a Best Actress Cesar for this role. I had seen Carre in several movies and found her competent but nothing special then, all at once the right career-defining role turns up and she shows what she can do. I can pay her no higher compliment than to compare her performance here to that of namesake Isabelle Huppert (the finest French actress bar none) in 'La Dentelliere' (The Lacemaker) with the proviso that Huppert was approximately 10 years younger than Carre when turning in her prize-winning performance. Carre is luminous and for virtually the whole of the running time she gives the impression of a real victim of Alzheimer's so that we feel we are watching a documentary rather than a film that has been scripted, shot and acted. The actors throughout are first rate, not least Bernand Campan as Carre's lover and protector. I saw the movie in an art-house in Balard last year (it's still playing there albeit only one or two screenings per week) and in September of this year I found it on DVD and can play it whenever I like. Out of ten stars it has to rate fifteen. One word description? Can't be done. Lyrical? In spades. Enthralling? And the rest. Magnifique? Doesn't come close. Thank you, Isabelle, Zabou, Campan, thank you for some unforgettable memories.

a great film! such a dark subject photographed in coloured pictures. i loved this rich detailed film without the expected stereotypes and a touching lovestory. it´s sad but it isn´t hopeless. the actors are so convincing and you start thinking about a disease you thought only old people could get. brilliant, that i hadn´t have the feeling of being voyeuristic! SEE IT: and think about it.

Se Souvenir des Belles Choses: i can only even begin to describe the greatness of this movie and the impact it has made in mind. After months of anticipation, i saw this film in Richmond, Virginia, as a part of the 11th annual VCU French Film Festival at the Byrd Theatre. Warning: i cried for a good 45 minutes.This is not to say the film was depressing. It was simply so moving.With Isabelle Carré portraying the lead in brilliant form, Se Souvenir des Belles Choses (lit.: To Remember Beautiful Things) offers a truly amazing view into the world of mental hospitals, specifically dealing with memory loss and Alzheimer's patients. Two of these patients share a heartbreaking love story when symptoms worsen and improve.Technically speaking, the film is a masterpiece. Do your best to see this one.