Another Year (2010)

The routine of some people who know one another. The tacit center of the group is at Tom and his wife Gerry, he a geologist, she a psychological counselor. Mary is Gerry's secretary and best friend, who leans on Tom and Gerry at her difficult times. Then there is Tom and Gerry's bachelor son Joe, Tom's brother Ronny, and some other minor characters.

Remarkable study of human relations at their most unexceptional. All these characters ring true, and will even probably resemble someone you and I know. Deceitfully casual, the progression of events has a very smart sense of humor to it, of a penetrating yet somehow compassionate kind. This is the kind of film a person who has enjoyed it will feel inclined to talk endlessly about, and end up with the feeling of failing to do justice to it, or reach its essence. It is also possibly the best film of its director I have seen, with the caveat that I have seen everything since Life Is Sweet (excepting the shorts), and nothing prior to it.
A little note to myself (and whoever else would be interested); there is an intriguing scene in this film, which might be just a bit of a slip on the part of the filmmaker, or perhaps something else. Gerry and Mary are talking in the kitchen, when Mary is at Gerry's uninvited and unannounced. Mary asks whether Gerry is angry at her, and Gerry says she has let her down. Gerry then says Mary must take responsibility for her actions. It is not clear to me what actions are these. It could not be merely because she dropped by without calling first (not such a big thing, I think). Nor it would be related, it seems, to Mary's behavior when she was introduced to Katie (Joe's girlfriend), since nothing of consequence happened. So, the only explanation I can come up with is that something happened outside the film's narrative. The reasons for such a hypothetical ellipsis are not clear.

Rating: 89