Rigorous and riotous by turns, the new masterpiece from the nonagenarian Manoel de Oliveira is an elegant, deeply affecting portrait of a man caught between the overwhelming presence of death and the awesome fullness of life. Michel Piccoli gives a wonderful performance as an actor who must take care of his grandson after his wife, daughter, and son–in–law are tragically killed. Costarring John Malkovich and Catherine Deneuve, it was the surprise crowd pleaser of last year's Cannes Film Festival.