Color, NR (mature themes), 83 min., VHS $29.95, DVD $29.95
DVD: commentary, interview with filmmaker
Available now
First Run: L, Aug. 2002, NA
Cast: Michel Piccoli (Traveling Companion), Catherine Deneuve (The Musketeer), John Malkovich (Shadow of the Vampire),
Antoine Chappey (Shooting Star)
Director: Manoel de Oliveira
MILESTONE/IMAGEE
Story Line: After losing his wife, daughter and son-in-law in a car accident, aging actor Gilbert Valence (Piccoli) takes custody of his young grandson, returns to the stage and struggles to restore a semblance of normalcy to his life--even though he is more aware than ever of his own mortality.
Bottom Line: A true masterpiece, I'm Going Home is at once a glorious testament to the human spirit and a poignant commentary on aging. Director de Oliveira, who tackled this project at age 92, has crafted a story that teems with bittersweet irony and gentle humor. He makes Valence a man forced repeatedly to come to terms with the vicissitudes of life and the inexorable diminution of his abilities. In matters both large and small Valence is buffeted by change. One minor but touching scene indicates his sadness at being displaced from his favorite table at his favorite cafe. De Oliveira makes his points forcefully but never heavy-handedly, and Piccoli's performance is incredibly deft. Although I'm Going Home is unmistakably Continental in attitude, its message is universal in nature, and we can safely predict that mature viewers will find it a deeply affecting film. --Ed Hulse