Aaron's Thoughts
An absolute masterclass in how to reveal information throughout a film. The slow trickle of information gives you just enough to chew on while also ensuring you aren’t handed all of the intricacies in the first 15 minutes. It all quietly builds until the final act of the film when it all comes together.
In fact, it builds up so nicely that you could argue the conclusion/climax feels a bit random & sudden. There are also far too many moments where the filmmaker makes an artistic choice or two that get in the way of the story and characters at the heart of it.
Speaking of characters, Renate Reinsve gives a jaw dropping performance as Elizabeth. I still think that her performance in “The Worst Person in the World” is one of the best performances of the decade, yet her performance in Armand may be even greater than that. The physicality in this performance is unlike anything I’ve ever seen from her.
There is one scene in particular where she looses her marbles in a stretch of laughter that feels like it lasts for five minutes straight. Someday, this will inevitably be included on some reel showcasing her life’s work.
She’s going to be around for a long time & I can’t wait for future generations to explore Armand when they watch through her filmography decades down the road.
