Cert 15
103 mins
BBFC advice: Contain strong language and infrequent gory images
Crikey, we haven't let the grass grow this bank holiday weekend.
Actually, we have. Our garden looks like a jungle because we have spent all of our time socialising, playing golf, watching films and seeing Derby County lose in the play-off match.
Anyway, it has been prosperous weekend in terms of the blog both in a sudden and pleasing upsurge in people reading it and the number of movies ticked off.
The splurge of pictures included Philippe Claudel's French family drama, starring Daniel Auteuil and Kristin Scott Thomas.
I was particularly intrigued by this one after a twitter follower asked me to explain its ending after watching at Derby Quad last week.
I explained I had not yet seen the movie and was consequently keen to see its finale.
Now I understand why it left her dissatisfied. After such a detailed preamble, I had certainly expected a humdinger of a conclusion.
For a good hour Before The Winter Chill had me hooked but I am afraid Claudel allowed the nicely peaking tension to seep away.
Auteuil plays a brain surgeon who has a beautiful wife (Scott Thomas) and a fabulous home.
But he becomes destabilised when he starts to receive flowers daily from what he believes to be a young woman (Leila Bekhti) whom he thinks is obsessed with him.
As it turns out, the boot swiftly moves to the other foot because he dotes on her and a platonic but, nevertheless, dangerous relationship develops.
And the more he delves into the life of the mystery girl, the less he wants to know, ignoring all of the warning signs.
In the meantime, fractures grow between him and everyone who has previously been dear to him.
Auteuil is a picture of anxiety in the lead role and receives some great support from Scott Thomas and Bekhti.
But the movie left me wanting more intensity and there is a disappointing lack of clarity about the ending.
I shall write no more for fear of ruining it for those who haven't seen it.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 4/10