Il y a Longtemps Que Je T’aime (I’ve Loved You So Long) (2008)

Kristin Scott Thomas was nominated for a heap of awards for her role in this French drama - a film about a woman with a terrible secret who finds understanding and love in her long-lost sister. 

And rightly so.  She gives an astonishing performance as the damaged, introverted Juliette, giving her intensity, dignity and fragility so convincing your heart breaks for her throughout. 

Scott Thomas is the centre of the film, but the supporting cast are excellent too, so the performances are not the problem here.  The problem is, unfortunately, that for a good hour very little actually happens.  There is a lot of fantastic acting, a lot of beautiful emoting, and a lot of deeply felt pain and suffering, but that’s it.  It’s not till the last 40 minutes or so that the film stops being worthy and starts moving, which is a shame, because the story is a compelling one and the ending is heart-stopping.  I just wish we’d gotten to it sooner.