A coming out story, a portrait of two retired women in love, and a drama confronting old age and mortality — “Two of Us” is all of these and more. The French-language film is about Nina (Barbara Sukowa) and Madeleine (Martine Chevallier), lovers who, after decades of hiding their relationship, plan to move to Rome and finally live openly as a couple. But then tragedy strikes.
Nina and Madeleine live in adjacent apartments in Montpellier, and as far as Madeleine’s grown children know, the women are just friends and neighbors. The widowed Madeleine, nicknamed Mado, is hesitant to tell her children that their abusive father was not actually the love of her life. Nina doesn’t understand why Mado can’t summon the courage to be honest with her children, while Mado wishes Nina would be more patient and supportive. Before Mado is able to tell her kids who she truly is — and how important Nina is to her — she suffers a stroke that leaves her immobile and unable to speak. Now it’s physically impossible for her to come out to her children, and Nina’s unsure if it’s her place to tell them the truth.
At the same time, Nina desperately wants to be the one to take care of Mado — as many long-time partners or spouses would. But since no one knows the actual nature of their relationship, Nina is basically shut out of Mado’s life. It’s heartbreaking for both women: we can see in Mado’s eyes that she understands what’s happening to her, and that Nina is the only person able to comfort her. As for the Nina, it tears her up to be separated from her lover when she needs her most. She has no other choice than to keep tabs on her partner from afar, watching her come and go with her hired caretaker from the peephole and window, and sneaking visits when she can.
The tragedy of “Two of Us” isn’t just in Mado’s stroke and its aftermath — the thought of a person not being able to help or say goodbye to a declining loved one is possibly even more wrenching.
While we understand Nina’s initial frustration with Mado — it’s not easy to hide who you are, especially when you don’t want to — we can also empathize with Mado’s fears. The two women have been together long enough to see the world evolve and become more tolerant, but discrimination still abounds. The queer community, in ways large and small, is still marginalized.
Clearly, Nina and Mado would not be in this mess if LGBTQ+ folks were guaranteed the same respect and protections that their straight counterparts are — and the film doesn’t gloss over that. The couple at the heart of “Two of Us” don’t enjoy the privilege of carrying on without fear of being demonized for who they are. No wonder Mado is so afraid to step into the light, hand-in-hand with Nina. If the world was a kinder, more accepting place, Nina and Mado would no doubt have been spared some pain.
“Two of Us” is now available on VOD. Malysone Bovorasmy co-wrote the script.
