Changing Times

Changing Times *1/2

Boy, did I hate "Changing Times." I haven't been this bored and weary with a film in a long time. I could feel my eyes starting to close many times here. and its a shame considering the talent that was involved. And I'll admit, that the films best scenes, and the thing that stopped it from getting zero stars, were the parts where it was just Catherine Deneuve and Gerard Depardieu, talking to one another. They ignited energy into the film that it was missing for it's entire 90 minute runtime.

Depardieu stars as Antoine, who is overseeing an architectural dig in Tangiers. However, his mind is elsewhere. He is obsessed with finding the woman that he lost years ago-Cecile. He searches for her, and sends her flowers every week or so. She doesn't know who is sending the flowers, because he doesn't include his name, but she ends up simply discarding them. But then, he ends up bumping into her in a supermarket. His idea to hide behind a small plant in the store is a failure, when she ends up spotting him, and the two are reunited. It is awkward. She really doesn't want to have anything to do with him, but he is still obviously in love with her. And then it is a convential love story, where two people who haven't seen each other in 30 years, and yet obviously both have some kind of feelings for one another, begin to reconnect and rediscover one another. Then, there is some kind of subplot involving Cecile's daughter in law, and her twin sister, but I really couldn't follow that, find any relevance to the story, or remember it very well.

The only real reason to see this film is for the two leads. If it weren't for those two big stars, this film probably wouldn't have made it to the United States, and would probably have not been as big a hit as it was. They make it worthwhile. There scenes together are so beautiful and sweet. You feel sorry for Antoine at times, but also you find the fact that he wants her so much a little creepy. I've always said that French movies were always a gamble. There have been some real masterpieces, but there are always real stinkers. "Changing Times," sadly, is the latter. It's pointless, convential, and only has big names to promote it.