Variety

A skillful blend of fire and ice that subtly conveys the emotional extremes fraught in the relationship.

Variety by Leonard Klady

A skillful blend of fire and ice that subtly conveys the emotional extremes fraught in the relationship.

Los Angeles Times by Kevin Thomas

A handsome work of authoritative yet understated style, responsive to mood, subtleties and nuance in exploring its especially well-drawn and intelligent lovers.

Chicago Tribune by Michael Wilmington

Once again, as love dies and illusions crumble, this natural actress (Isabelle Huppert) shines with human fire. [26 March 1999, Friday, p.B]

Entertainment Weekly by Lisa Schwarzbaum

Jacquot economically conveys the small, painful sacrifices both lovers -- but particularly the woman -- must make, and the constant, ongoing negotiations of power required to maintain no-strings freedom.

Chicago Reader by Lisa Alspector

Subtly profound love story.

ReelViews by James Berardinelli

This is a film to be enjoyed on a psychological level for its keen understanding of the contradictory impulses that drive sexual and social intercourse.

Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert

I cannot imagine a Hollywood movie like this. Audiences would be baffled.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) by Ray Conlogue

This is a great film for those who share the disabused French view of grownup life, but more particularly for those who want to see one of the great actresses of her generation at the height of her powers.

Village Voice by J. Hoberman

Predicated as it is on Huppert's pensive, provocative blankness, the action moves a bit slowly, although, as is often the case with Jacquot, events make more sense after the movie is over.

The New York Times by Stephen Holden

Watching this handsomely filmed, deftly edited but rather dry movie, you keep imagining the juice that a director like Pedro Almodovar could have squeezed out of the same story.

Austin Chronicle by Steve Davis

Predicated as it is on Huppert's pensive, provocative blankness, the action moves a bit slowly, although, as is often the case with Jacquot, events make more sense after the movie is over. Dares to provoke rather than titillate in its delineation of love's strange ways. As the French might say, “L'amour, l'amour, toujours l'amour.”

Christian Science Monitor by David Sterritt

Never quite catches fire.

TV Guide Magazine

Huppert's performance leans a bit heavily on the moist-in-the-eyes motif, but it's terrific none-the-less.

San Francisco Chronicle by Edward Guthmann

Talky, emphatically unsteamy psychological drama.