I was drawn in by the cast, ever curious to watch the films of Eva Green and Alicia Vikander. The basic premise doesn't truly inform what the narrative is about, and I didn't read of it otherwise, so I was quite caught off guard. But it's a pleasant surprise, because 'Euphoria' is a fantastic movie.

It's not an easy watch. It's at best awkward to see Emilie (Green) and Ines (Vikander) struggle through the pains of their estrangement, if not just as acutely distressing. And well before the climax rolls around, there's no shortage of scenes that are achingly heartfelt, as beautiful as they are excruciating in their emotional turmoil. Yet through it all, you just can't look away.

With the quiet (...or sometimes not so quiet) drama that unfolds, 'Euphoria' is focused squarely on its characters, and the cast is outstanding. I've long admired Eva Green for her skill and versatility. She so readily embodies both a soft grace, and a willful force of personality; tenacity, and vulnerability. Her performance as Emilie is not truly any different, if perhaps a bit understated compared to more fantastical roles she's taken on. I'm less familiar with Alicia Vikander, yet I'm immediately so impressed by her here that I want to see everything else of her films. She gives Ines a profound stubbornness, and anger, that belies deeply rooted hurt. If she brings even a fraction of that same fire to roles in other films, watching them all feels like a bare necessity.

And to watch Green and Vikander together, there's an irresistible magnetism to their instances as scene partners. There's one particular scene, near the end, when the dialogue ceases, and for a moment Emilie and Ines share a long gaze between them. The camera cuts between Green and Vikander, and without a single spoken word, the look in their eyes says everything.

All this is to say nothing of the phenomenal supporting performance from Charlotte Rampling as Marina, whose warmth and steadfastness is still another fine anchor for the film. Nor the subdued, sparing music of composer Lisa Holmqvist that so perfectly complements the duration. Lisa Langseth's screenplay is as engrossing as her direction is eye-catching. And all the while, the film has important ideas to convey about family, and life - how we live it, and how it ends.

I watched this with no particular expectations save for the skill and reputation of its stars, and I'm utterly blown away. 'Euphoria' is beautiful, with severe emotional heft we feel keenly, and came and went in 2017 with far too little notice. Everyone should watch this; I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Euphoria this isn't. Well not in the sense you may think at least. More of moral bliss, enjoying certain things in life in a quieter fashion. I did not read what this was about, but even so you can feel a weight on Eva Greens shoulders when she meets up with Alicia Vikanders character. Two different people and yet related, with quite some past.

Of course that past will unravel and unfold during the running time of the movie and while some things feel petty, it's still human emotions. And then you have decisions that are being made against the will of a character and other things that may make you wonder ... many things not just about life. Depending on your state of mind, on your current situation and other things

After watching this, I realized I still know next to nothing about any of the characters and I feel nothing. Because how am I supposed to care about someone I have absolutely no connection to. So I feel the movie failed in drawing compelling characters and driving home the sort of philosophical message is was maybe kinda sorta going for. Also at ending scene is the worst my...