Je vous aimerai toujours (1933) Review: A Sad French Weepie That Actually Works

Is it worth your time?

If you are into those old-fashioned stories where everyone is extremely sad in a beautiful way, then yes. This is for the people who like to sit in the dark with a glass of wine and watch a life fall apart and then maybe, slowly, come back together. 🍷

If you want fast action or people making logical choices, you are going to hate this. It’s a movie about big feelings and bad decisions. It moves slow, like it’s walking through honey.

I didn't expect much because it’s a remake of an Italian film, but there is something about the French version that feels a bit more... I don't know, lonely? The atmosphere is thick enough to choke on. 🌫️

The story starts with Adriana coming to Paris. She’s already had a rough life, which we don't see all of, but you can see it in her eyes. Jeanne Marie-Laurent has this way of looking at the floor that makes you want to buy her a blanket and a hot soup.

Then she meets this guy, played by Alexander D'Arcy. He has one of those perfect mustaches that screams 'I am going to ruin your life.' And of course, he does. He’s all charm and smiles until things get real.

There is this one scene in a little cafe that I can't stop thinking about. The lighting is kind of dim and the smoke from the cigarettes just hangs there like a ghost. She looks so happy for about three minutes, and it’s the most stressful part of the movie because you know it won't last. 🚬

When she finds out she is pregnant, the movie gets really heavy. Back in 1933, being an unwed mother was basically a social death sentence. The way the people around her start to look at her—it’s cold. Really cold.

The guy, of course, vanishes. He just poof, disappears. It’s infuriating to watch even though you know it's coming. I found myself talking to the screen like a crazy person, telling her to just walk away before it happens.

I noticed the sets look a bit flimsy in some shots. Like if someone closed a door too hard, the whole 'Paris apartment' might just wobble over. But in a weird way, it adds to the feeling that her life is fragile. 🏠

There is a lot of walking in this movie. People walk down streets, walk through parks, walk across rooms. Sometimes the camera just follows them for no reason. It’s a bit much, but it gives you time to think about how depressing everything is.

The music is also super loud. Every time she feels a tiny bit of sadness, the violins start screaming at you. It’s like the movie doesn't trust you to know she’s upset unless there’s a full orchestra in your ear. 🎻

I think I liked the middle part best, even though it's the saddest. She’s working this job and trying to hide her situation. It reminded me a little bit of the vibe in Unto Those Who Sin, where the world is just waiting to pounce on a girl who makes a mistake.

Then Henri Marchand shows up as the guy who might actually be decent. He’s not a 'movie star' handsome guy, which I liked. He looks like someone you might actually meet at a grocery store. His kindness feels real because it’s so quiet.

There is a scene where they are just talking near a window. No big music, no dramatic lighting. Just two people being human. It’s probably the best part of the whole thing. It’s a nice break from the melodrama.

I did get a bit bored during the long dialogue scenes about 'honor' and 'family.' People in 1933 really liked to talk about honor for hours. It’s hard to relate to some of that stuff now, but you can feel how much it mattered to them. 🗣️

Also, the baby! There is a shot where she is holding the child and you can tell it’s a doll. Like, a very obvious, stiff doll. It’s a little funny and it totally broke the mood for me for a second. Why couldn't they get a real baby? Or at least a doll that didn't look like wood?

If you’ve seen Leathernecking, this is the complete opposite of that. No singing and dancing here. Just a lot of staring into the distance and wondering where it all went wrong.

The ending is... well, I won't ruin it. But it’s not as sugary as I thought it would be. It feels earned. It’s a small, quiet kind of happiness. The kind that feels like a tired sigh after a long day of work.

One thing that’s weird is how much they use shadows. There are these huge shadows on the walls during the big arguments. It makes it feel like a horror movie sometimes, which I guess being a single mom in 1933 basically was. 👤

I also kept thinking about Naughty while watching this, mostly because of how different the 'troubled woman' trope can be played. This one is way more serious. It doesn't try to be cute.

Is it a masterpiece? Probably not. It’s a bit clunky and the editing is kind of jumpy in the first half. Sometimes a character will just appear in a room and you’re like, 'Wait, how did they get there?'

But the emotional core is solid. You really feel for Adriana. You want her to catch a break. And in a movie like this, that’s really all that matters.

It’s a dusty old film, but if you wipe off the grime, there’s a really tender heart beating inside it. Just don't expect it to be a fun time. It’s a 'sit and think' kind of movie. 💭

I’m glad I watched it, even if it made me want to give my own life a hug. It’s a reminder that people have been struggling with the same messy heartbreaks for a long, long time.

Check it out if you find a copy. It’s better than most of the stuff from that year that usually gets talked about. Just maybe keep some chocolate nearby to help with the sadness.