Un Coeur en Hiver ( A Heart in Winter ) | 
| Director: Claude Sautet
Actors: Daniel Auteuil, Emmanuelle Beart, Andre Dussollier, Elisabeth Bourgine, Brigitte Catillon
Studio: Koch Lorber Films
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.98
Buy New: $12.98
You Save: $17.00 (57%)
New (35) Used (9) from $12.89
Rating:  70 reviews
Sales Rank: 23511
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dvd, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: French (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 101 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: KCHDKLF3086D
UPC: 741952308690
EAN: 0741952308690
ASIN: B000HIVIQU
Theatrical Release Date: June 4, 1993
Release Date: November 7, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
Daniel Auteuil (Manon of the Spring) plays Stephane, the curiously diffident coowner of an exclusive violin brokerage and repair shop. A brilliant technician, Stephane can make any instrument live up to its promise, yet he is emotionally remote himself, disconnected from passionate experience. His partner, Maxime (Andre Dussollier), lacks Stephane's gifts but is rich in personality and desire. When Maxime's new lover, a violinist named Camille (Emmanuelle Beart), is drawn to Stephane's still waters, the latter is briefly moved, thus destroying the fragile, symbiotic relationship between all three individuals. Veteran French filmmaker Claude Sautet (of the Oscar-winning Cesar et Rosalie) has made a powerful film here expressed in the smallest of gestures, just as one might tune the strings of a violin ever-so-slightly to achieve perfection. Sautet indeed employs such a sonorous motif in this story, in which violins always seem to be playing and suggesting that the principal characters look at life as they do music: something to be tinkered with and manipulated for effect. --Tom Keogh
Product Description
Studio: Koch International Release Date: 11/07/2006 Run time: 101 minutes
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| Customer Reviews: Read 65 more reviews...
A Masterpiece of Love April 29, 2009
Daniel G. Lebryk
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Un Coeur en Hiver is a masterpiece in so many ways. It is a quiet film that draws you in and keeps you captivated for the full 105 minutes. At no point did I ever try to fast forward this film, including the gorgeous music sessions.
The story is love triangle between Maxime, the owner of a violin repair shop; Camille, a young and rising violinist; and Stephane, the humble artisan in the repair shop. Maxime is in love with Camille (absolutely stunning gorgeous Emmanuelle Beart). Camille begins to fall in love with stoic Stephane, while staying with Maxime. As the film progresses Camille shows more and more affection for Stephane. The twist, Stephane refuses her love. According to the DVD special feature interview with director Claude Sautet, this is Othello told from the perspective of Iago, or Stephane in this film.
The reference to Shakespeare is wonderful, and those that love literature will love this film just for the reference. However, this is a film that requires absolutely no knowledge of that play to enjoy the beauty Sautet brought the screen.
The music is absolutely stunning. Even if a person does not love classical music, the music playing moments are so perfect. Sautet uses the interludes where Camille plays the violin as rests or a changes in the story line; the timing is so exactly right. Apparently, Emmanuelle Beart spent a year taking violin lessons preparing for this part.
The film is set in Paris at a time when service and appearances matter deeply. Stephane and Camille enter a crowded restaurant for a quick break during her recording session. There are no tables, so the maitre'd shows them to the bar. They order a cheese plate and a beer. A few moments later the bar tender leans over and says a table has just opened up. The try to take the plate and glass. The bartender stops them and has a waiter come over to deliver their food to the table. A small moment, a gracious moment, the kind of thing that happened in Paris all the time. People dressed nicely, they were polite to eachother, and service was number one.
Not rated by the MPAA. Elsewhere in the world it is rated 12/13/14. There is no strong language in the subtitles. There is no nudity. There is no violence. There is one somewhat senuous scene where a nude female back is shown in bed, but nobody else is in that bed (a chaste but senuous scene because of what the imagination says happened - that's the most powerful type of this scene). The film is very far from R rated, it might be PG-13, but if the MPAA were honest, this is a PG film. In French with English subtitles that can be turned off. No English soundtrack.
The bonus features on this DVD are very interesting. Again Europeans seem to understand how to pack useful things onto DVD's. There's a couple of old news clips from French Television (TF1, when it existed). The best are the interviews with the director. He explains some interesting backdrops to this film. I found them worthwhile.
A masterpiece that doesn't require special acquired tastes to view. A person can simply start this film, sit back and be entertained. Sautet takes care of making you care about the three characters. He takes care of the beautiful music. And he makes sure you are moved by this film.
Can beauty melt an ice-cold heart? March 29, 2009
Arnold Cusmariu
Beauty, it has been said, can soothe the savage soul. But can it melt an ice-cold heart? This movies answers, "No, even if Beauty is personified in the gorgeous Emmanuelle Beart." The man who will not budge is played by Daniel Auteuil, one of France's leading actors, and his characterization is eminently believable--though, like me, you'll probably be thinking, "dude, have you lost your mind?" Beart is the violinist who falls in love with him to no avail.
I gave five stars because the idea is original and the execution is excellent. However, I thought the story might have explained how Stephane (Auteuil), a man in his 40s, got to be stiff as a board in the emotional intelligence department. Maybe that's all meant to be a mystery, maybe it's best not to ask the question, but had I written the script I would have figured out some way of hinting at the issue without being obvious or superficial--fear of intimacy doesn't arise overnight.
Still, all in all an enjoyable movie, adult and well acted and way different from the usual tripe we get from Hollywood these days.
"Un Coeur En Hiver", C'est Tres Froid! January 31, 2009
Rowan (Iowa, USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I saw this movie's review a bunch of times and was thinking it might be overrated from all the positive reviews I read. After a while, I decided to check out what all the fuss was about and rented it. I will never regret this decision.
I have a passion for French films and have seen quite a few in my time, but rarely has a movie touched my heart like this film has. Camille is a talented violinist who falls for her lover's business partner, Stephane. All this seemed scandalously romantic until Stephane's true colors were revealed: he is incapable of emotional intimacy.
I have read some reviews that have said the plot is lacking, but the plot was what drew me in right away. Perhaps it is because of the way the actors pulled off their roles, which is pretty much seamlessly.
What I enjoyed most about "Un Coeur En Hiver" were the intelligent yet casual dialogues. The things talked about were ordinary, everyday things yet were still interesting. I myself have rarely come across people who could hold an intellectual conversation like the ones in this film. I do not mean to sound egotistical, but I simply enjoy having a conversation with someone politely, wittily and casually. This movie allows me to escape to an ideal place.
"Un Coeur En Hiver" is not a movie for everyone. But if one enjoys intelligent, philosophical and profound dramas, definitely check this French flick out. You may be incredibly surprised...and moved.
 French amure January 2, 2009
Michael Kerjman (The Earth)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Business affairs had been temporarily destroyed as a business partner's girlfriend had grabbed an asexual middle-age violin master's groin at restaurant, watched by patrons and her partner.
It is a work too sophisticated for a modern viewer, a sort of "Three Colors Trilogy (Blue / White / Red)" trilogy.
A beautiful film about love and life August 12, 2008
Arthur Simoes (Hartford, CT USA)
It took the powers that be years to decide to release this film on Region 1 DVD format. This is a brilliant film about relationships and love and life. The French know how to make a film that stays with you, there ain't no hollywood ending here. So worth the wait.
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