電影《從前的我們》影評：Live Life Chapter by Chapter

Short comment: 1. I want to learn French after watching this movie. 2. I didn’t pay much attention during the first 30 minutes and then I went back to rewatch the movie and now I want to watch the whole thing again. 3. It’d make you laugh and think; it’s about love, politics, literature, and life. 4. After the movie, I was lying on my bed, listening to 「Je Reviens Te Chercher,」 again and again single cycle.

We live our lives chapter by chapter. What’s fictional and what’s real, I guess it’s hard to tell in the end. I want to become Sarah. She’s crazily in love yet not blinded by love: if you don’t love me, nah it’s fine. I know you’re afraid because you feel inferior, 「in front of a girl who is picky about my overuse of adjectives and present participles, I don’t know if I can still get it up.」 But I’ll do anything to make you love me back. I’d write down all the phone numbers you can call to reach me and call you nonstop even though you never pick up the phone; I’d sleep with your best friend and your brother just to make you jealous; I’d run away with you on Christmas eve; it’s okay if you’re cheating on me because I know you don’t love anyone but me… and yes indeed you married me. And then one day when I realize he still loves me, I am already over him— 「for twenty years, I always fear that he’s going to leave me, and is this fear that makes me love him for so long. Now I no longer have this fear.」 He writes a book about his broken and bitter marriage, a book about my life. In the end, he writes, 「We think we are sensual when we are in love. We are immediately convinced that our desires are contagious. So, she has to suffer from my triumphant mistakes. I thought I was fulfilling her desires, but I was just rushing things in my way. Now I’m willing to destroy all my works just for one of her smiles. Sarah’s smile is my only religion. No offense to some people, but one sometimes is destined to encounter the irreversible love.」 He’s now lying on my sofa like a fool, and asking me will my husband make me laugh, and I decide, 「Obviously, there’s nothing more exciting than to run away with the one you love, even though it’s the second time and with the same guy.」 You’re old, bald, fat, I’m more charming and successful; you’re dependent on me, but I love you. After your funeral, I told a guy a big secret, he asked me,

「Why not tell the truth?」

「Because it’s my right. Now people only care about glories and how others think about them. they no longer have secrets. But I love secrets.」

「But the readers deserve to know the truth.」

「The readers? I don’t sleep with them. I already have one reader—the man I love. I already have all I want. I swear to you, with a little imagination, what happens between two people can be worth all the honors.」 Ultimately, why care if their stories are real or fictional? With a little imagination, anything is more fun.

Also, interesting social critiques in the movie. Some random quotes that made me laugh.

- 「The advantage of being a beauty is, when she talks nonsense, she becomes even more attractive.」

「Interesting… I think the same way about old men. When they talk nonsense, it’s kinda touching.」

- 「I’ve written about everything, conversations, the trance state, porns, incest, violence, everything. Ironies of the left, the right, Jewish, lesbians, women, redheads, gays… I’ve done everything. People no longer read. People no longer listen. Everyone writes, and no one reads.」

- 「Have you ever thought about hair transplantation?」

「No」

「It’s kinda expensive, but worth it.」