Director Marion Hänsel’s film TENDERNESS, screening at this years’ Sydney Film Festival, is a funny and tender film.

Ski instructor Jack (Adrien Jolivet) has injured his leg in a snowboarding accident with his girlfriend in the French Alps and needs his long divorced parents, Frans (Olivier Gourmet) and Lisa (Marilyne Canto) to drive from Belgium to collect him and his van.

The film is a lovely character study of two old friends who have progressed beyond the bitterness of their divorce. They irritate each other, in some ways still love each other, and have the interests of their son to bind them.  Marilyne Canto gives a delightful performance as an intelligent independent woman with a pleasant hint of zaniness whilst Olivier Gourmet blends middle aged arrogance with a gruff good nature. A gentle humour suffuses the film. There are many wry comments and observations.

Little actually happens in the film, other than a two day road trip through beautifully filmed European scenery. Cinematographer Jan Vancaillie is to be applauded. The opening scene belongs to him as two tiny figures ski down a magical pristine snow covered mountain in long, slow languid curves.

The parents meet Jack’s sweet and charming girlfriend, Alison (Margaux Chatelier). The four characters have regular conversations, basically friendly with some minor irritations that different generations will encounter. Jack and Alison are deeply in love and, when they cannot be with each other, are constantly texting and calling each other.

Whilst this film does not seem to have great drama and theatricality it does have simple and strong emotions, an intelligent narrative, and, all in all, is richly satisfying.