NEAREST TO HEAVEN

France, 2002, 99 minutes, Colour.
Catherine Deneuve, William Hurt, Bernard Le Coq, Helene Fillieres, Patrice Chereau, Nathalie Richard, Emmanuelle Devos, Paulina Porizkova.
Directed by Tonie Marshall.

Nearest to Heaven is a phrase that Deborah Kerr used about the Empire State Building in An Affair to Remember. This contemporary French romance, focusing on an older generation played by Catherine Deneuve and William Hurt, uses, almost unashamedly, clips from An Affair to Remember and parallels the plot.

Catherine Deneuve as the highly successful businesswoman who has a passion for seeing An Affair to Remember, often and weepily, goes to the United States to get a photo of a painting. She clashes with the New York boss, played in a somewhat surly manner and offhandedly by William Hurt. The difficulty with the film is that the audience is meant to empathise with both these characters and believe that they could change their attitudes, fall in love, and repeat the basic plot of An Affair to Remember. But the temporary gloss of the big business world does not help audience identification and the stars show a certain abrasiveness, even despite Catherine Deneuve's glamour.

The film was directed by Tonie Marshall, who directed the much more successful picture of women hairdressers in Venus Beauty. This film is a disappointment compared with the original Love Affair, the classic Affair to Remember, and even the remake as Sleepless in Seattle.

1. A middle-aged romantic comedy? Drama? The aura of the stars? Their working together - or not?

2. The background of An Affair to Remember, the quotations in this film? Fanette going to see it, weeping, going to see it again and again, the theatre being full? The other woman in the theatre weeping? The parallels between this film and An Affair to Remember, characters, situations, the Empire State Building, the appointment? The change in ending?

3. The glamour of the art world in Paris? In New York? In Boston? A world of glamour and fashion?

4. Fanette, her world, age, experience, the reunion, meeting Bernard, their reminiscences, his slapping her face? Her dreams about Pierre? Her self-estimation? At her work, the book, the art, taking down the recordings? Her relationship with her daughter, her daughter moving out, her going to visit her daughter, the girl who was visiting? The encounters with Bernard? Watching the artist and his paintings? Her boss? Going to New York, meeting Matt, taken aback, going to the hotel, her being tired? Being petulant about the photography, the missing painting? Travelling to Boston in the car and her reaction? The cups of coffee on the way? The banter between the two - a credible basis for a relationship or not? In Boston, the hotel, her going down and dancing, the cake, the drinks, the discussions with Matt? The wrong painting the next day, going to the house, the correct painting, listening to the discussion between Mary and Matt? Anxious to get back to New York, the meal, Bernard arriving, going to the Empire State Building, nervous, the discussion with the doorman? Seeing Bernard, rushing away, Matt on the other side of the street with the rolls of film, going through the taxis and not being knocked over? The possibility of a relationship?

5. Matt, William Hurt's style, at the airport, his attraction towards Fanette, offering to take her around, the hotel, the photo set-up, the wrong photo and his comments on how good it was? Travelling to Boston, driving? The hotel, meeting her in the bar, their discussions, her revelation about her relationships, her not wanting to talk, not wanting him to talk? The next day, Mary, his knowing her from the past and their discussion? Inviting her to dinner in New York, the appointment, waiting with the roll of film?

6. Bernard, past relationship, his love for Fanette? Their meetings, discussions? In New York at the restaurant, at the Empire State? Had he sent the message from Pierre or was it from himself?

7. Lucy, her relationship with her mother, moving out, the Friend living with her?

8. The world of work, art, the production of the book?

9. Fanette and her going to the cinema, the importance of Hollywood and romantic cinema?

10. A credible romantic love story or not?