Around a Small Mountain
Around a Small Mountain

Movie spotlight

Around a Small Mountain

2009
Movie
84 min
French

Vittorio stops to help Kate when her car breaks down on a mountain road. When they meet again, Vittorio discovers that Kate has rejoined a circus after a long time away. He begins to learn about the troupe's buried past and Kate's connection to it, while experiencing the magic of the circus.

Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Director: Jacques RivetteGenres: Drama

Plot Summary

A retired opera singer, Claire, is preparing to sell her Parisian apartment. Her estranged daughter, Corinne, arrives unexpectedly, bringing with her a young woman named Camille who claims to be an admirer of Claire's singing career. As Camille integrates herself into Claire's life, old family secrets and simmering resentments begin to surface, testing the fragile relationships between the women.

Critical Reception

Jacques Rivette's 'Around a Small Mountain' received generally positive reviews, with critics often highlighting its intimate portrayal of family dynamics and its deliberate, contemplative pace. The performances, particularly Jane Birkin's, were frequently praised for their subtlety and emotional depth. While some found the narrative somewhat opaque or slow, the film was largely seen as a mature and poignant exploration of memory, regret, and reconciliation.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its subtle exploration of complex family relationships.

  • Jane Birkin's performance as the aging opera singer was a standout.

  • The film's measured pace and introspective tone were appreciated by some, though found slow by others.

Google audience: Audience reception for 'Around a Small Mountain' is not widely documented on Google's platform, making it difficult to summarize specific user opinions. However, general discussions online suggest viewers who appreciate character-driven dramas and contemplative filmmaking found the film engaging.

Fun Fact

The film marked a reunion of sorts between director Jacques Rivette and actor Michel Piccoli, who had previously collaborated on several notable films, though it was their first project together in nearly two decades.

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