Love can be hell, but a beautiful hell, indeed; and so we see this in A Very Long Engagement. Mathilde (Audrey), stricken with polio as a child first meets Manech (Gaspard) when they are 9 or 10 and he asks “does it hurt when you walk?” From that moment on, a bond was created in which each nurtured the other’s needs. He, being her physical strength and she, being his emotional supporter.

When Manech is reported killed as the French battled the Germans in 1916, Mathilde refuses to accept it. Instead, she uses clever deduction to unravel the mystery of the fates of Manech and the other four soldiers who had been sentenced to death by their own French commanders. Much of the story is told through flashbacks from several characters’ viewpoints. Don’t worry about the names, just stick with the story as it can get confusing and tends to drag a bit. Nevertheless, your breath will catch witnessing the visuals and your heart will quiver to share in such a powerful love.

Warning! Jodie Foster pops up quite unexpectedly and sticks out in this French gem like an American sore thumb.