Intersection (1994)

This film is a vastly superior remake of a French film called "Les Choses de La Vie" by Claude Sautet starring Michel Piccoli and Romy Schneider. I had known the original film for many years because of its theme music....which is absolutely magnificent, and composed by Philippe Sarde. The film itself is really a load of slow, boring and tedious crap ........a car accident is repeated in slow motion I don't know how many times but enough to drive one mad on that score alone ! Also it was very repetitive and had little deep character development. In short, its saving grace was its soundtrack !!!

Intersection, on the other hand, which I saw when it came out in Cinemas in France and subsequently bought on DVD has always been a great favorite of mine ! So much better than the Les Choses de La Vie that to compare the two is, quite frankly, a total waste of time. To be truthful, when I saw Intersection, I did not make the connection with Les Choses de La Vie, such was the greatness of Intersection compared to the banality of the other film ! It's only by reading about the film that I discovered this.

From what appears to be a relatively limited plot, we have magnificent performances from the three principal actors, especially the two ladies ! Of course the red-haired Olivia Marchak was an absolute beauty, but even Sharon Stone, whom I don't usually like in films, had something attractive about her ! Gere had a weak, cowardly and annoying character ( I don't like seeing people cheat on their wives ) but I must admit he played the part very well. I was especially subdued by Olivia, both by her physical beauty and here quasi-unflappable character in what could have been tense situations.

The final fifteen to twenty minutes of the film is the best part because ......you know it's going to happen .....but you don't want it to ......but it's destiny. I liked the bit about the letter he wrote to Olivia but never posted plus the message he left on Olivia's ansafone but where SHaron Stone came by accident into possession of the letter which was written but never posted. All that really got to me at the end and filled me with a strange emotion somewhere between happiness and sadness and is very difficult to describe. By this deft twist of the plot, each of the Ladies believed he loved ......her !! An excellent way to finish the film.

I have watched the film four or five times and each time I am filled with the same emotion .....so there must be something there !