Tom Hiddleston Couldn't Stop Thinking About This 93%-Rated Drama for a Month: "Piece of Wisdom"

Tom Hiddleston became an idol for millions as Loki in the MCU, but he has always remained a theater and independent film actor and a connoisseur of serious auteurs.

In interviews, he has repeatedly confessed his love for non-mainstream cinema, singling out movies that have truly moved him.

One such film is the 2012 Oscar-winning drama that is rarely remembered today.

Tom Hiddleston Was Impressed by Michael Haneke's Oscar-Winning Film 'Amour'

Tom Hiddleston was under a big impression after watching Michael Haneke's Amour. He found the film to be a revelation that forced him to reconsider his approach to life and death. In an interview with Flaunt, the actor said:

“That film is like a mountain. It's a piece of wisdom that is in the background every day and Haneke has just shown it, saying, ‘So, you know, this is what you want. This is the intimacy that you'll be lucky to have when you get to the end of your life...’

When I saw it, I couldn't stop thinking about that film for an entire month. It just made everything else seem so flippant and disposable.”

Although the Academy has rarely recognized Haneke's work because it's too provocative, Amour received four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and won Best Foreign Language Film.

What Is 'Amour' About?

Georges and Anne are an elderly couple who have lived together their whole lives. Their days are filled with quiet joy: concerts, books, and caring for each other. One morning, however, Anne stops answering Georges' questions, her face frozen in a blank stare.

A slow decline begins: stroke, paralysis, memory loss, and helplessness. Despite pressure from his daughter, Georges refuses to send his wife to a hospital or nursing home. He cares for Anne himself, bathing her, feeding her, and reading aloud to her.

But with each passing day, it becomes more and more difficult. The illness robs Anne of her body and her dignity, leaving Georges with an impossible choice.

'Amour' Is an Incredibly Tender and Poignant Film About True Love and Loss

At first, Amour may seem like a difficult ordeal. It's true – watching a loved one fade is unbearable. However, Haneke found light in this story.

Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Louis Trintignant deliver performances so compelling that you forget about the camera. Their characters aren't symbols or metaphors, they're real people with their own habits, weaknesses, and tenderness.

The scene in which Georges feeds Anne with a spoon and tells her stories from the past contains more love than all Hollywood melodramas combined.

Amour confronts viewers with a central question: what does it mean to be together in sorrow and in joy when sorrow becomes endless and joy fades? Haneke's answer is simple yet terrifying: it means staying together until the very end, no matter the cost.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Amour'?

• Amour has 93% from critics and 82% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.9/10.

• On Letterboxd, Amour scored 4.2/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Amour'?

Amour is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.