Identical women, born on the same day to different corners of Europe, subconsciously influence each other’s lives. Though they never meet - only a brief sighting from across a crowded town square - their shared extra-sensory connection is deep and profound. Doubly so when one suddenly collapses and dies during a choral performance. Across the miles, a drastic mood swing shows us that the other is immediately aware of her loss. After experiencing that moment of heavy, inexplicable grief, she develops a newfound appreciation for life’s little delights and a fresh attraction to love.

Though its plot may be limited and often confusing, there’s something intrinsically seductive and alluring at play here. The film’s technical warmth and rich visual tones deserve recognition, but I think its star is the real reason everything comes together. Irène Jacob plays both characters, on-screen for nearly the entire running time, and displays a rare degree of cinematic magnetism. A quiet and understated actress, she single-handedly carries the story’s weight, conveying complicated emotions with subtlety and nuance. And it doesn’t hurt that she’s a certifiable knockout, effortlessly gorgeous in even the most mundane of acts.

A critically imperfect, but emotionally entrancing, mix of sights and senses.