Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Absolutely Fantastic

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

I've just watched this movie and I have to say that I'm very impressed and touched! First of all once you start watching you get immersed in it immediately after seeing Madame Hansen in the beginning. Personally I felt like the film lasted 5 minutes. Throughout almost the whole time one wonders how did Madame Hansen end-up in this severely devastated psychological state, why had she completely lost herself, what had swept away her inner feelings up to that enormous trauma? She remembers so clearly all numbers and little details but she don't or doesn't want to remember what happened to her. She covers all with some sort of sarcastic lines all the time (partly due to the medicines she's given in the psychiatric clinic too). Usually in most of this kind of scripts it results that there has been violence or something like that, but Alexandre Astier had a different and much more heartbreaking idea. I'm not telling what happens when the story's revealed (it's an open, but good ending that gives hope though), but I definitely have to say that the scene with Madam Hansen's flashback in the car towards the end is BREATHTAKING!!! I was just devastated! The script is marvellous! Also the locations, especially the mysterious Hansen-Bergmann house, are overwhelming. Oh well, the cars too, can't deny that :) Isabelle Adjani's acting is absolutely terrific, she should've won another Cesar for the role of Madame Hansen, she certainly was the best choice for this delicate and fragile role (totally different from the usual psychos in the movies). Alexandre Astier's acting is like he's feeling awkward in front of the camera, I didn't really feel his personage well, but his script and his directing is very good, so all I can say is bravo to him! A must watch!!!