VIFF 2014: Canada's An Eye for Beauty lives up to its title

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      An Eye for Beauty (Canada)

      You may never see a more awkwardly polite (and therefore Canadian) extramarital fling on screen than the one portrayed in the latest offering by Denys Arcand (The Decline of the American Empire). A successful young Québécois architect strays from his marriage when he becomes involved in a long-distance affair with a beautiful Toronto professional. Meanwhile, his wife, who dabbles with one half of a married same-sex couple, is plummeting into a downward spiral of anxiety and depression. With a novelistic feel, the gorgeously shot and cast film, which showcases the St. Lawrence region through various seasons, lives up to its title. Unfortunately, it's not all in positive ways—the bland characters fail to offer much more than their attractive appearances. While there are brief moments of emotional intimacy that shine, it's a film to look at more than feel. 

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      Comments

      1 Comments

      Jeff Johnson

      Mar 23, 2015 at 7:33pm

      I think your review's last like sums it up well. Pretty people and scenery, words rather than feelings. I enjoyed it but it seems like it could have been much more.