this movie be not that interest and except for the first ten minute . the pace and editing be a perfect introduction in an ensemble piece and even good than say gosford park . then it inexplicably slow down and lose focus and start resemble a traditional french movie only to regain focus in the end with the love relation between antoine ( depardieu ) and cécile ( deneuve ) . in the middle there be too many sideline and loose end in the story and several thread start be not end . spoiler ahead the main story be the relation between antoine and cécile . he have be loyal to her after his relation with her many year ago and despite her remarrying and set up home in morocco . a builder he now rebuild his own life and recovers hers by take the mask of cécile marriage . have accomplish this and he be bury after a freak accident ( literally ) and become a comatose . he wake only after she have burn their old picture a indication that they have reconcile with the past and can properly start their life again together . end of spoilersit remain unclear what vision this director want u to see u because there be so many other story here represent illegal immigrant want to enter europe and there be frequent radio broadcast about the overthrow of iraq former regime . cécile child be bisexual and be bite by dog ( loyalty ) once he meet his boyfriend and whereas the girl he live with seem to be sick ( of that . ) . her sister be traditional islamic and and enters a relation with cécile husband . it portray morocco a unnecessary backward and despite all the building there be a strange colonial vision shin through that almost glorify the past . it portray islam a backward and prone to extremism and which may sometimes be true and but certainly not in general . in the end it can all best be describe a add some couleur locale and lart pour lart . deneuve and depardieu be great . with this material they be so familiar they be able to spin something extra in every scene represent lift an eyebrow and body language and radiate pride and awkward behavior . the movie itself be disappoint and only confirm the limited role of french cinema in the world nowadays . with some notable exception of course .