A Very Long Engagement

Oddly exuberant, for a somber "tragedy of war" story. The credit probably goes to director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who brings a lot of his trademark quirkiness to what would otherwise be a mordant tale. Somehow, the frequent interjections of odd and strangely humorous behavior work, even as Audrey Tautou's mournful lead character rolls through a heart-wrenching quest for her lost love. There's a bit of the mystery to this story, and if you're not quite enthralled by those "put the clues together" machinations, you may find that focus distracting. But the overall story holds its own, and everything marches through to a satisfying conclusion.