TORONTO - Kristin Scott Thomas says she's been astounded by the reaction to her new French-language drama, "I've Loved You So Long," which tells the story of a woman who moves in with her sister after completing a 15-year prison sentence.
"I've had people come up to me on the street saying: 'Your film, it's changed my life,"' the Oscar-nominated actress said during an interview at the Toronto International Film Festival.
"I've had people writing to me saying how much it's affected them, how it's changed their relationship with their sister, with their daughter, with their mother, with their brother ... It's been amazing, the effect the film has."
The debut directorial effort from novelist Philippe Claudel, "I've Loved You So Long" (the French title is "Il y a longtemps que je t'aime") has already been a major box office success in France (the U.K.-born Thomas has lived in Paris since she was 19).
The actress, elegantly dressed in a pale pink blouse and black slacks, says she tries to balance her time between French and English projects, explaining that she likes to work at home and that she enjoys French films because they're about "people rather than things."
To North American audiences who know her from films such as "The English Patient" and "Gosford Park," her stripped-down performance in "I've Loved You So Long" will come as a surprise.
Juliette is haggard and aloof upon her release from prison. She speaks very little at the outset of the film, gradually opening up while re-entering society. Though it deals with serious themes, the story never becomes heavy-handed as Juliette develops a relationship with her sister, brother-in-law and two nieces.
While Thomas, 48, is also at the festival with "Easy Virtue," co-starring Colin Firth, it is her performance as Juliette that has left critics buzzing.
Awards show handicapper Tom O'Neil, who writes for the Los Angeles Times entertainment website "The Envelope," cites Thomas as one to watch come Oscar season, along with other festival standouts Keira Knightley ("The Duchess"), Anne Hathaway ("Rachel Getting Married") and Sally Hawkins ("Happy-Go-Lucky").
As is the case with most celebs making the rounds in Toronto, Thomas is quick to shun such chatter.
"I find it very anxious-making. I'd rather not think about it," she said. "Making a movie is a collaboration."
Still, Thomas acknowledged that a recent Laurence Olivier award for her stage performance in Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull" "made her year" and says it's "rubbish" when people say they don't care about awards.
The best thing about such kudos, she says, is that they lure people to theatres.
"The important thing about it is that it gets people to see the film," she said. "And I would so love people to see this film."
"I've Loved You So Long" opens Friday in Quebec and in select cities across Canada on Nov. 7. A Broadway version of "The Seagull" starring Thomas begins previews next week.
