Hold Me Tight

One of the great gains of lockdown for me was discovering mubi.com At the time, this film sit with a rotating schedule of international films was eager to attract new customers, so they had an eyewatering three months trial subscription. After a month, in which I watched a dozen films, I was totally hooked. I’ve stayed with them since, and still see at least eight films a month. “Hold Me Tight” has been ne of the best. It’s a French study of a family, which starts with the wife and mother leaving the home. We move between her and them, and then see them grow older and develop. There are moments of strong feeling, but not any obvious source of anger or betrayal. so is this real, or are we in some kind of fantasy? The film provides an answer, but in a subtle,developing way, so that by the time you’ve got to the end you want to sit down and watch it all again. This is movies for adults - think about what’s going on, pick up the clues - but with none of the superiority that can sometimes imply. It’s a thoughtful, loving study of what happens to people in a tough situation, and about as far as you can get from stereotypical Hollywood. Oh yes, and Vicky Krieps is totally mesmerising.