"Amour" movie quotes take viewers along as a story about love, loss and growing old plays out in this French-language drama film. Written and directed by Michael Haneke, "Amour" opened to critical acclaim and went on to win the Palme d'Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival before it was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
In "Amour," the late life of retired 80-something music teachers living in Paris is the basis of the film. Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) and Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) live a long and happy life together, though somewhat detached from their daughter, Eva (Isabelle Huppert), who lives abroad. As they grow older however their health begins to decline, something that is highlighted when Anne has a stroke one morning during breakfast.
As much as he loves her, Georges tries his best to take care of Anne in their French apartment, much to the displeasure of Eva who urges Georges to put Anne into a nursing home. Anne's condition continues to worsen and takes a toll on both her and Georges. It is at this point where Georges has to make a decision to do what is best for the woman he loves so dearly but has to see suffer in pain and anguish.
The emotional love saga of "Amour" touched the hearts of many, including awards voters but it wasn't the only one. Other top movies of the season included "Django Unchained," "Killing Them Softly," "Hitchcock," "Skyfall," "Lincoln," "Flight," "Playing for Keeps," "Silver Linings Playbook," "Anna Karenina," "This Must Be the Place," "Cloud Atlas," "Wreck-It Ralph," "Nobody Walks," "The Sessions," "Red Dawn," "Chasing Mavericks," "Rise of the Guardians," "Argo," and "Looper."
Amour Movie Quotes,
Are You Out of Your Mind?
Eva: "Are you out of your mind?"
Georges: "Sit down."
Eva: "I don't want to. What is going on?"
When Eva learns of the declining health of her mother, Anne, she is initially shocked by the news. Even more so, she is insistent that Georges put Anne in a facility rather than care for her at home.
What Image?
Anne: "You're not going to ruin your image in old age, are you?"
Georges: "I'd rather not. What image?"
Anne: "You're a monster sometimes"
When Anne asks George about if he plans to ruin his image in his old age, George doesn't for a moment think that Anne means he could change it positively, instead of being remembered as an occasional awful person.
We've Always Coped
Georges: "We've always coped, your mother and I. All this is still a bit new."
Eva: "Sorry if this embarrasses you but when I came in earlier I remembered listening to you two making love when I was little. For me, it was reassuring. It made me feel you loved each other and that we'd always be together."
Speaking with daughter Eva, Georges explains how the life he and Anne had known for so long is now changed as they have grown older and their health has declined. Eva however reassures them that she's always known that things would work out positively in the end.
Is This a Joke?
Georges: "Anne?"
Anne: "What are you doing? You left the water running."
Georges: "What? Are you completely mad? Is this a joke?"
Anne: "Sorry?"
Georges: "Is this some kind of prank? Are you playing a prank on me?"
Anne: "What prank? I don't understand. Why that tone of voice? What's gotten into you?"
Georges: "Stop playing games. It's not funny."
Anne: "What games, for goodness' sake? What's going on?"
After Anne's stroke, Georges learns that living together without making each other go crazy is going to be a difficult task. This is exemplified in this scene where both think the other has left the water running.
I Remember the Feeling
Georges: "Some banal romance or other about a nobleman and a lower middle-class girl who couldn't have each other and who then, out of sheer magnanimity, decide to renounce their love - in fact, I don't quite remember it any more. In any case, afterwards I was thoroughly distraught, and it took me a bit of time to calm down. In the courtyard of the house where grandma lived, there was a young guy at the window who asked me where I'd been. He was a couple of years older than me, a braggart who really impressed me. 'To the movies,' I said, because I was proud that my grandma had given me the money to go all alone to the cinema. 'What did you see?' I started to tell him the story of the movie, and as I did, all the emotion came back. I didn't want to cry in front of the boy, but it was impossible; there I was, crying out loud in the courtyard, and I told him the whole drama to the bitter end."
Anne: "So? How did he react?"
Georges: "No idea. He probably found it amusing. I don't remember. I don't remember the film either. But I remember the feeling. That I was ashamed of crying, but that telling him the story made all my feelings and tears come back, almost more powerfully than when I was actually watching the film, and that I just couldn't stop."
As Georges remembers a story from his childhood, he highlights a specific feeling that he has carried with him all of his years. Like love, it's those strong emotional feelings that remain after all of the other details are long forgotten.
What Would You Say
Anne: "What would you say if no one came to your funeral?"
Georges: "Nothing, presumably."
Anne asks Georges to reflect on the life he's lived by thinking what would happen if no one respected him enough to attend his funeral. His literal answer, of not saying anything as he'd be dead, is the kicker.
Things Will Go On
Georges: "Things will go on as they have done up until now. They'll go from bad to worse. Things will go on, and then one day it will all be over."
Part restating the obvious and part brilliantly reflecting on life, Georges describes, in a very basic manner, the stresses of growing old.