Written and directed by Angelina Jolie, and starring the actress and her husband Brad Pitt, By the Sea focuses on Vanessa and Roland, a married couple who stay at a French hotel to sort out their relationship problems.
The programme notes to the film at Hollywood's AFI Film Festival - where it was shown on Thursday night - declared that By the Sea was “inspired by European cinema and theatre of the 1960s and 1970s.” Through a haze of cigarette smoke, the beleaguered pair in the tight ensemble piece attempt to communicate, while Brad Pitt as Roland deals with the additional woe of writer’s block.
Cinematography is by Christian Berger, costume design by Ellen Mirojnick and music by Gabriel Yared, all big names. However, the first American reviews have expressed reservations about the slow pace and lack of drama in By the Sea. According to The Wrap, The Pitts look as though they are 'appearing in the September issue of Vogue for Depressives.'
Yet Variety magazine was upbeat. “After the premiere, one party-goer said, ‘Good for her, she got this movie made.’ Yes, absolutely good for her. But awards voters may feel that’s reward enough… People will love or hate the film, but it does exactly what it set out to do. All the work is commendable, including the performances by the two leads."
By the Sea reunites Jolie and Pitt on the big screen for the first time since 2005's Mr and Mrs Smith.
Jolie has worked frequently behind the camera in recent years, and won wide acclaim for 2011's In the Land of Blood and Honey.
Her last directorial project was Unbroken, released last year, a war drama about the two years which Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini spent in a Japanese prison camp.
By the Sea opens in America on December 11. No Irish release details are available at this time.
