No words! This is a major masterpiece. The intensity of maternal love (and reciprocated filial love) conveyed through the script of this film and the astonishing work of its ingenial cast left me breathless. My own father spent his early adult years in Vilna (only later to be trapped in the Rovno Ghetto and subjected there to the execution of his first nuclear family during an Einstazgruppen Aktion). The life in Vilna captured in this production rang absolutely true to what my Dad shared with me, so long ago, about his happy years there. . . And Charlotte Gainsbourg's portrayal of Romain's mother, in my view, was inspired by something so primordial -- and so timeless -- that I felt, as I watched this film, that I was learning something about God's inspiration when he created humans. That is saying a lot, since I am a cynic regarding human potential in most contexts (:^)...
Agreed! Gainsbourg's performance as Nina is masterful and a testament to the saying that “a mother’s love knows no bounds,” and her portrayal of a determined woman with unbelievably high expectations for her only child is enthralling. Like you said, the cast members’ performances are breathtaking, and their amazing abilities are enhanced by the fantastic production design and visuals of the film. I personally felt the film’s structure enabled viewers to feel more connected to the characters, and the visuals were just completely breathtaking throughout the movie.