9
I found L'Âge des ténèbres to be an extraordinary film. Blending a subtle mixture of comedy and poignant observations on everyday life, it presents a devastating critique of the lifestyle that many of us have chosen and the role of government institutions in our society. Tenderly, in the last frames of the movie, it offers a vision of an alternative, fully conscious way of life. A way of life that is embedded in the here and now, and is not dependent on superficial fantasies, prevailing social norms and fashions, or rudderless striving. The acting is first rate. It is a film that rewards viewers who allow themselves to sit back and let the words and images wash through them, reverberating with their own emotions and experiences. It is an enriching film and, perhaps, the best of the series of excellent films that Denys Arcand has produced.