Movies at The Rex, Berkhamsted - Amelie, On the Rocks and Portrait of a Lady on Fire

With Cineworld closed, I gravitated to The Rex cinema in Berkhampsted, especially as it was showing some older movies that I had not seen. Starting with the wonderful Amelie, a colourful and light concoction just right for these times. Audrey Tautou is extraordinary as the unhappy waitress who hides her pain in bringing happiness to others. It does eventually turn into a romantic comedy but the whole time we are mesmerised by this young woman. Directed with affection by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, that smile you have all the way through stays with you for ages.

On the Rocks was actually  the film to show off the great acting talents of Rashida Jones, only for it to be hijacked by one Bill Murray in his best performance for years. Sofia Coppola has written and directed an intriguing drama about a father and daughter relationship on the back of the former's crazy idea that the daughter's husband is being unfaithful. Or is he? It is the crisp dialogue between the two leads that keeps us guessing as they tour New York and beyond. Classy stuff.

But the best film of these three was portrait of a lady on fire. This French move is quite something. Fortunately I knew nothing about the film, only that it had great reviews. Mark Kermode gave it five stars. We are in the eighteenth century as artist Marianne (Noemie Merlant) is hired by Valeria Golino to paint the portrait of her daughter Heloise (Adele Haenel). What ensues is a kind of relationship that blossoms into something memorable. For the two women, anyway. Memory plays a big part, and effects the audience as much as those on the screen. And I must nor forget to mention Luana Bajrami as the maid Sophie, a fragile yet feisty servant. The acting is first class.

This film needs to be seen in the cinema. Where else could you appreciate the silences that punctuate the action. There is no music (until that marvellous crescendo at the end) and we could hear a pin drop at that screening.. That was so weird, almost painful, but glorious. All down to the brilliant writer/director Celine Sciamma. Beautifully filmed on the rugged coast of Brittany, the colours match the mood.

There is a clip from the opening scene on YouTube which explains the title of the film. It could have been the last scene, but this is even later and is quite magical. One of the best ever endings to a film. A completely different tone to what came before, sad and happy all at once.