REVIEW - 'Le Week-End' (2013)

Meg and Nick, an estranged couple, jet off to romantic Paris for a lovely weekend in the hopes of patching up their 30-year-long marriage that’s in dire need of repair. Nick craves attention while Meg seeks a quiet abode to relax and retire after many years of toil as a biology professor in the UK. However, when she brings up her retirement plans to hubby dearest, it is clear he wants no part of it; this leaves them at a crossroads and their marriage barely hanging on as the weekend nears a close. Is there hope for reconciliation for them both or will the weekend getaway be all in vain?

A Script Filled with Both Heartwarming and Heartbreaking Moments

Penned by Hanif Kureishi (of “My Beautiful Launderette” fame), the best bit about “Le Week-End” is that it is filled with plentiful of unexpected moments which are equal parts heartwarming and endearing—and also downright heartbreaking. At times, I was surprised and simultaneously smitten by all the brief moments of solace; the same is true of the film’s cute moments, interspersed amidst painful interactions between the couple. These moments are what makes it such a breezy and balanced outing; there’s some levity, despite tackling the heavy subject of a marriage falling apart, and despite its flawed and pained characters.

“Le Week-End” also does the unexpected and transforms a highly romanticized city like Paris into a drab, dull, and intensely unromantic city. At best, we see the city as a popular tourist attraction, and at worst, it’s just plain boring (Meg refers to it disinterestedly as a ‘very beige’ locale with not much to do). And while you might think this is an attempt at painting the city in a bad light, it’s anything but. This moody portrayal instead serves to complement the rough patch the couple finds themselves in as they contemplate love, marriage, kids, and everything in-between.

An Un-romantic Paris; but not a Film Devoid of Romance

However, the film’s not entirely bereft of romance as the aforementioned description might suggest. After all, it falls in the romance/drama genre, and being threadbare of romance would sound absurd. It has its scenes. We see Meg and Nick hugging it out on their hotel balcony, the dreamy Eiffel Tower shining in the background; we see them sharing a kiss after Nick renews their vows on a Paris street, a beer can pull-tab acting as a makeshift ring; and we see them drunkenly chasing each other around hotel hallways like hopeless romantics, making for emotionally stirring and satisfying viewing. These are the most romantic and deeply affectionate moments shared between the pair; despite their differences, they always remain mutually young at heart. It is also infused with the best kind of humour—the quintessentially British kind!

Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan in “Le Week-End.” (Photo: Music Box Films).

Lindsay Duncan delivers a nuanced performance as Meg; she accurately portrays a woman who feels suffocated in marriage due to Nick’s selfishness, but who can often be mean spirited. During “Le Week-End” we see Meg directing deadpan jabs at Nick; and at points, she ie even unintentionally hurtful and cold. Jim Broadbent leaves a mark with his riveting performance as Nick; he often reduces one to tears or extracts applause via his facial expressions, reminiscent of a needy puppy. His mannerisms convey the pain of heartbreak, and his devotion to a woman who won’t reciprocate his love. Broadbent and Duncan share a chemistry that will pull at one’s heart strings as their characters inch closer towards reconciliation. But equally, their performances threaten to wound as they drift apart: either due to distrust, insecurity, or not meeting eye-to-eye.

Goldblum Charms; and the Power of Second Chances

Jeff Goldblum is ever-reliable and is at his quirkiest as Nick’s American friend and successful author Morgan. At times, Goldblum even sheds this quirky persona, adding emotional depth to his character. He tells via confession about his failed marriage and decision to settle in Paris for a second chance at love. But this is done whilst abandoning his responsibilities as a husband and father to his estranged first wife and teen son back in America. A scene towards the end where Broadbent, Goldblum, and Duncan put aside all differences to indulge in a charming and impromptu jig in the middle of a café also showcases the natural camaraderie between the actors.

“Le Week-End” does fall short of a memorable background score; but other than that, it will suffice if what you seek is a gradual and bittersweet exploration of sweethearts, soul mates, and second chances.