Exclusive: 'Amour' Script Shook Up Star for Days

Writer/director Michael Haneke's powerful, Academy Award-winning film Amour finally arrives on DVD and Blu-ray on August 20, and ETonline is proud to present an exclusive clip from the bonus features in which timeless star Jean-Louis Trintignant describes how he was so shaken when he first read the script that he couldn't talk to Heneke for days.

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"It's never sentimental, even though what happens is horrible. Horrible," says Trintignant. "When I read it, it really shook me up. I couldn't call [the director] for three days. I had to pull myself together because I was so overwhelmed and shaken up."

Winner of the Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Language film, Amour stars Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva as retired music teachers George and Anne, a longtime couple in their eighties whose bond of love is severely tested when Anne has a stroke. The situation is complicated further when their daughter (Isabelle Huppert) intervenes and George is forced to make critical, life-altering decisions.

"It's interesting, because lots of films are about youngsters and very few about old folks," says Trintignant. "They're very rare, especially, I think, with such simplicity and no slushiness."

Related: 'Amour' Wins Best Foreign Film at Oscars

Amour was also nominated for Best Directing and Best Original Screenplay awards for Haneke, along with Best Actress in a Leading Role for Riva, who became the oldest Best Actress nominee of all time at 85 years old. Bonus features on the Blu-ray and DVD include The Making of Amour featurette and a Q&A with Haneke.