The Thorn In The Heart review

A documentary or a home movie?

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Michel Gondry turns documentary maker in this subtle, affectionate portrait of his aunt Suzette, a retired teacher who spent three decades working in rural villages across France.

Revisiting those isolated hamlets, a picture emerges of a strong, avant-garde woman fondly remembered wherever she goes, a counterpoint to Suzette’s accusatory relationship with her fragile son Jean-Yves – “the thorn in my heart”.

Gondry resists swamping a painful trip down memory lane with too much visual dazzle, but also overindulges in detours that make you feel you’re watching a home movie.