One Fine Morning ★★★★

Director: Mia Hansen-Løve

Cast: Léa Seydoux, Pascal Greggory, Melvil Poupaud

Release Date: 14th April 2023

Mia Hansen-Løve is one of the most exciting filmmakers in the world right now. Her work transcends language and explores the main components of what makes us human. Her storytelling has a raw ferocity with films like Goodbye, First Love, Eden and Things To Come. Now with her latest work, she joins forces with the Jewell in the French acting crown Léa Seydoux.

One Fine Morning is set in Paris, where a young, widowed mother juggles her job as a translator caring for her young daughter and her elderly father, who suffers from a degenerative illness. Her life is further complicated when she embarks on a passionate affair with an old friend in an unhappy marriage.

Mia Hansen-Løve continues to twist and poke my heart. One Fine Morning is a bitter yet humbling experience that delves deeper into what makes us human. Every French auteur must make an extramarital affair-themed film to add to their filmography, but this was a different beast. The layered texture of it all gives it so much life and suffering. There is a strong sense of natural empathy that flows through this tale. Hansen-Løve grips you with her tight, sunlight framing as we gaze through the wonders of Paris, and yet this harrowing pain of our characters leaves a bitter taste in our mouths.

The universal emotions that Hansen-Løve utilises throughout the film give a deeper meaning to any audience member. We have all suffered loss and love, and as this tale unfolds, we reflect on our past experiences and truly connect with Hansen-Løve’s emotional story. There is no real sense of predictability within the runtime as we keep guessing where we are going next. Life can be unpredictable, extraordinary and sombre at times, and you can sense this throughout the film.

The pure mood swings of this experience show how well Hansen-Løve has honed in on her craft, and I want to see Seydoux in more of her films. Her performance is unbelievably humbling, sincere and aggravating. She faces various conundrums as she navigates her life, but you want her to have a better life. To find true happiness and peace, we must journey through a labyrinth of anguish, and once we reach the centre, we can be as one. The final sequence alone is why One Fine Morning is another masterful work from Mia Hansen-Løve. We are very fortunate to live in an era with such extraordinary talent.