A Paper Wedding

Claire (Bujold) is 39 and, despite the matchmaking efforts of her mother, still a spinster, with only a (married) lover for security. When her lawyer sister asks her to marry political exile Pablo Torres (Aranguiz) to prevent his deportation, Claire grudgingly agrees, only to find herself under investigation by the Immigration Department. With only three days to spare before the official hearing to determine whether the marriage is genuine, the newly-acquainted newly-weds set about discovering enough about each other to present a passable imitation of bona fide lovers. Less overtly political than his previous work, Brault's gently observed drama still manages to tackle the corruption of immigration laws while wistfully fantasising about the productive coalition of alien cultures. The elfin-like Bujold is excellent, and the interesting use of stop-frame and flashback make this an intriguing cinematic exercise.