Amour (Michael Haneke, 2012)

Haneke's grim tomes are somewhat of an acquired taste with their relentless pessimism about the state of the world, pervasive estrangement and man's inhumanity to man, but this is different. Yes, an old man having to look after his wife after she suffers a stroke does not invoke cheer, but it is a genuine representation of the love of the title nevertheless and rings true, most likely because it's actually largely based on the director's own experience.
Jean-Louis Trintignant, coaxed out of retirement for this, puts as much commitment into the role as the husband does to his wife's care in the face of her inexorable decline. There is a drawn-out focus on the minutiae of life as being both part of what makes it worthwhile and also its banality. When even these minutiae are not manageable any more as another stroke reduces her to a helpless baby, it's an unbearable assault on human dignity. It is a sincere attempt to make us see people's real pain, and for once Haneke cannot be accused of sensationalism. See it when you feel sorry for yourself over trifles: it won't cheer you up, but it does lend a sense of perspective few films manage.

8/10