(PCM) Writer-director Sophie Fillières’ If You Don’t, I Will, the Official Selection of the Berlin Int’l Film Festival, the San Francisco Int’l Film Festival, the Sydney Int’l Film Festival, and the Jerusalem Film Festival, premieres to public U.S. audiences in New York on December 17, 2014.
If You Don’t, I Will follows Pomme and Pierre, a couple who have been together for a long time. Passion and spontaneity have given way to predictability and cold shoulders. But there’s a lingering optimism, a hope they can return to the couple they used to be, attending chic art openings and sharing a laugh like young lovers.
On a hike together one afternoon, Pomme declares her independence by deciding to stay in the woods rather than return to an underwhelming life with Pierre. Pierre tries to get back to normal, despite his worry over her whereabouts and the indelible sense that he’s missing his better half.
Meanwhile, Pomme begins an extended meditation in the forest on where her own life should go next, with or without Pierre. In the end, both are left to contemplate the strength and meaning of each other’s commitment.
The film has received mixed reviews so far. Guy Lodge of Variety, in his review of If You Don’t, I WIll after its premiere at the Berlin Int’l Film Festival, praised the film, writing “Breaking up is hard to do, yet entirely pleasurable to watch, in “If You Don’t, I Will,” an effortless fifth feature from writer-helmer Sophie Fillieres that goes down with the mildly spiked smoothness of a chilled chenin blanc — or, to reference its single funniest gag, deep-frozen champagne.”
Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter disagrees with Guy Lodge, finding Fillières’ direction bland while applauding the performances of film’s two leads Emmanuelle Devos and Mathieu Amalric: “An intriguing premise… that unfortunately isn’t taken very far by Fillieres… much stronger are the many tete-a-tetes between Pomme and Pierre… marked by the terrific comic timing of Devos (Violette) and Amarlic (in Berlinale opener The Grand Budapest Hotel)… But such chemistry can’t entirely make up for the fact that Fillieres…never carries her concept anyplace convincing.”
Watch the official trailer for the French language film below, visit the official website for more info, and catch If You Don’t, I Will in New York starting December 17, 2014.
The post Sophie Fillières’ Dramedy ‘If You Don’t, I Will’ Opens in NY December 17 also appeared on PCM Reviews.