Parents' Guide to One Fine Morning

Life and love are never straightforward. This is the main takeaway from One Fine Morning (or to give it its French title, Un beau matin), a romantic drama set in the heart of Paris. Seydoux's Sandra is already dealing with a lot, before she randomly runs into her late husband's friend Clément in the park. Her father's Benson's syndrome -- a neurodegenerative disease which is impacting his sight and cognitive abilities -- is deteriorating to the point where he needs 24-hour care. But finding him the right care facility is easier said than done. So when Sandra and Clément share a clandestine kiss in his office, it's easy to see why she seizes her opportunity for some happiness and the pair quickly find themselves in bed together. But Clément is married, with a young son, meaning their relationship struggles to blossom beyond the four walls of Sandra's apartment. Unless Clément is willing to break up his family. It's a messy situation, but the narrative is told without judgment and in such a way that you empathize with both characters. This is partly to do with the fact that you never see Clément's wife -- her story would no doubt look very different. But it's mainly down to the strong performances of Poupaud and especially Seydoux, whose performance captures life's complications and contradictions.