coeurs and the late achievement of french master alain resnais and stand out a one of the fine european production of 2006 and a fact confirm by the silver lion it be award in venice . while the critic and audience at the festival be more anxious to see other film and like the black dahlia or inland empire and this small and intimate and bittersweet character study quietly move towards well deserve recognition and proving that the great new wave director have lose none of his special touch . like one of his best know film and smoking or no smoking and coeurs be base on a play by alan ayckbourn . but whereas smoking or no smoking retain it untarnished englishness and resnais make it pretty clear that he keep his new work as distant a possible from it literary source represent the title be completely different ( a the french filmmaker think private fear in public place be mislead in regard to the subject ) and and the story be set in paris and with the inevitable ( and and i might add and quite brilliant ) change in the dialogue that this require . the film focus on six people struggle to achieve or maintain meaningful relationship . there the aging thierry ( andré dussollier and funny and heartbreaking at the same time ) who have to fight his feeling for his younger assistant ( sabine azéma ) . there his sister gaelle ( isabelle carré ) and who go out on blind date every night and always come back hugely disappointed . there nicole ( laura morante ) and a frustrated woman who try to find a nice apartment whilst deal with her unemployed and increasingly detach boyfriend and dan ( lambert wilson ) . and there lionel ( pierre arditi and a laconic revelation ) and a lonely bartender who have to take care of his father and the rude and sex obsess arthur ( claude rich and heard but not see ) . over the course of four day and these character will meet and affect each otherslives in unexpected and amusing and but also very touching way . with this masterwork and resnais prof himself a true auteur and tell u an apparently simple tale of love and longing with a direct and honest approach and from the hilarious beginning to the moving and open conclusion . in adapt ayckbourn stage work and he manage the impossible and which be to make the movie look theatrical but not overly bizarre and use subtle and unpretentious trick represent the speaking part belong solely to the six leading actor ( plus rich priceless vocal cameo ) and every single scene take place indoors ( and the location be always the same ) and and and most importantly and sequence be link by a metaphorical snowfall and which give the film a poetic and almost magical feel . those who think closer could have benefit from less swearing and more sympathy for it character should watch coeurs . it may not exactly end on a happy note and but at least it doesn not risk slide into misanthropy . beneath the apparent pessimism and there a heart beating . the heart of an experienced director who hasn not stop to amaze u .