Showing @ Filmhouse, Edinburgh until Thu 31 Oct @ times vary

Roger Michell / UK / 2013 / 93 mins

They say that “when you know”, you know. But that doesn’t mean you’re destined to eternal joy, happiness and passion. On the contrary, it’s only the beginning of what could be a lifetime of hard work. In Roger Michell’s latest film, a couple (Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan) return to Paris to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary and rejuvenate their relationship. It’s a trip that will confound and reassert their understanding of relationships, people and the romanticised notion of “the one”.

Hanif Kureishi’s script depicts an “everycouple” and with well-observed dialogue, gives them character, personality and charm. They are almost too easy to relate to – at any age and stage of life – and so the impact of the profound sadness and uncertainty that lies under the surface of their seemingly happy times is striking and uncomfortable. Jeff Goldblum stars as the priggish American author whose dinner party throws a catalyst in to the repressed emotions of the couple. It ends as unassuming as it starts, with no final “happily ever after”, but the sentiment that time and people move on. It honestly and elegantly confronts the idea that there are, and will be, many times in life when you don’t really ‘know’ for sure. And that’s ok.

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