One Day You'll Understand

This low-key drama from Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai stars Jeanne Moreau—the iconic leading lady of France's New Wave cinema—as Rivka, a Holocaust survivor who lives in Paris and keeps a dark family secret hidden from her adult children, Victor (Hippolyte Girardot) and Tania (Dominique Blanc). Curious about the clan's tragic history, Victor scours old family pictures and documents, even visiting the small village where his grandparents attempted (unsuccessfully) to hide from the Nazis in his obsession to uncover their story. Although Victor can't understand why his mother is unwilling to fill in the blanks, it turns out that there is a good reason. Moreau's performance is both memorable and subtle—conveying strong emotions with a sidelong glance here, an upturned nose there—and it's a tribute to Moreau's skill and formidable presence that she maintains our sympathy even when the truth is ultimately revealed. Gitai, in a studied salute to the classic European style of filmmaking, exhibits a preference for long takes and elaborate tracking shots in this leisurely paced but powerfully affecting drama. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a photo gallery and trailers. Bottom line: a small extras package for a quietly powerful film.] (E. Hulse)