Alix (Emmanuelle Devos), a Parisian actor working in Calais, andDoug (Gabriel Byrne), make their way from Calais back to Paris via train. Eachis going through existential crises. Alix is broke, her relationship with herboyfriend of eight years seems strained and she’s eight weeks pregnant. Doug istraveling to a funeral for an old friend. The death has hit him hard.
They keep looking at each other, and upon arriving Doug asks her fordirections. She doesn’t know exactly, but a busybody nearby does, and Doug andAlix part ways.
Except they don’t, because we know what happens with strangers ontrains, right? Either it’s romance (Brief Encounter; Before Sunrise)or murder (Strangers on a Train; Throw Momma from the Train).
The film’s French title—Letemps de l'aventure, which translates roughly to “The time foradventure”—is better, because “just a sigh” only makes up part of the story.For Doug, there’s just the sigh of romance. For Alix, there’s a missed lunchand an angry sister and financial troubles and more.
There’s a sustained wistful feel throughout, even if some it issupplied by a pushy but lovely score. JérômeBonnell’s movie isn’t great—time is pretty elastic here—but it’s satisfying inits own quiet way.
JUST A SIGH
Directedby Jérôme Bonnell
WithDevos and Byrne
The Screen
NR
105 min.
