Watch My Favorite Season

My Favorite Season is a 1993 French drama film directed by André Téchiné, starring Catherine Deneuve, Daniel Auteuil, and Marthe Villalonga. The movie tells the story of a family's struggle with change as they come to terms with the aging process, personal relationships, and the evolution of their own lives.

The film follows siblings Emilie (Catherine Deneuve) and Antoine (Daniel Auteuil), who are reunited after many years when their aging mother, Berthe (Marthe Villalonga), falls ill. Emilie is a successful actress who has lived in Paris for many years, while Antoine lives a quiet life in the family's country estate in northern France. Despite their differences, the two siblings are forced to confront their own personal demons as they come together to care for their ailing mother.

At the heart of My Favorite Season is the relationship between Emilie and Antoine, which is marked by a combination of sibling rivalry and deep affection. Emilie's glamorous lifestyle and career have always left Antoine feeling overshadowed and resentful, while Emilie is frustrated by Antoine's lack of ambition and his continued attachment to their childhood home. Yet, as they spend time together caring for their mother, they begin to reconcile and come to understand each other in new ways.

The film is also notable for its portrayal of the relationship between Emilie and her lover, Jean (Pierre Arditi). The couple has been together for many years, yet their relationship is strained by the demands of Emilie's career and the fact that Jean is married to someone else. Ultimately, they are forced to confront the limitations of their relationship and the sacrifices they have made for each other.

Throughout My Favorite Season, director André Téchiné expertly captures the complex emotions and dynamics of family relationships. From the sibling rivalry between Emilie and Antoine to the tender bond between Berthe and her granddaughter, the film portrays family life in all its messy, beautiful complexity. The stunning French countryside serves as a picturesque backdrop to the story, with Téchiné using the changing seasons to underscore the ebb and flow of the family's own evolution.

Perhaps most strikingly, the film offers a poignant meditation on aging and mortality. As Berthe's health declines, the family is forced to face the reality of her impending death and to grapple with their own mortality. Emilie, in particular, is forced to confront the fact that her success and beauty are fleeting and that she must find meaning and purpose in her life beyond her career.

In terms of performances, the film is anchored by an outstanding cast led by Catherine Deneuve and Daniel Auteuil. Deneuve is radiant as Emilie, capturing both her beauty and her vulnerability with remarkable sensitivity. Likewise, Auteuil delivers a quietly powerful performance as Antoine, conveying the depth of his emotions with subtlety and nuance. Marthe Villalonga is also superb as Berthe, imbuing her character with a mixture of strength and frailty that captures the difficult realities of aging.

Overall, My Favorite Season is a beautiful and moving film that offers a powerful exploration of family, aging, and the search for meaning in life. With its stunning cinematography, impeccable performances, and thought-provoking themes, it is a must-see for fans of French cinema and anyone who has ever grappled with questions about family, mortality, and the passage of time.