Tag Archives: Auteur

Sauve Qui Peut (La Vie) Every Man for Himself

Posted on June 9, 2016 by

Godard’s charm is particular: his ability to hold us close to his characters, shake us for a reaction, and then pull us back to the position of voyeur. Sometimes we are with them, and sometimes we aren’t. Depression and solemn … Continue reading →

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Conte de Printemps (A Tale of Springtime)

Posted on May 25, 2016 by

Conversation in Eric Rohmer’s Conte de Printemps is as free as bugs buzzing in tall meadow grasses: a waking-up to truth, and the falling away of wintertime misunderstandings. First in the series Contes des Quatre Saisons (Tales of Four Seasons), … Continue reading →

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Vincent, François, Paul et les Autres (the Others)

Posted on March 19, 2016 by

Mid-life unease is worn as light as a 1970s sports jacket in Claude Sautet’s expose of friendship and floundering between three men. Energetic entrepreneur, Vincent (Yves Montand), the uptight doctor, François (Michel Piccoli) and disillusioned writer, Paul (Serge Reggiani) all … Continue reading →

Posted in 1970s French cinema, French Cinema, French Film Reviews, French Movie Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Conte d’Hiver (A Winter’s Tale)

Posted on March 11, 2016 by

Eric Rohmer reinvents fairytale with grey cold, charming chattering and the hopes of an ordinary woman. Neither Grimm nor Disney, greedy witch or shallow promise, Rohmer’s magic rests in the day-to-day and a heart’s steadfast belief that something, contrary to … Continue reading →

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César et Rosalie

Posted on March 5, 2016 by

Male adoration and infatuation takes two forms in Claude Sautet’s love-triangle serenade, starring Romy Schneider as the woman unable to choose between a passionate entrepreneur and an aloof artist. Both are obsessed with her, but show their interest in different … Continue reading →

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Le Boucher (The Butcher)

Posted on March 1, 2016 by

A disturbed butcher falling for a small-town schoolteacher forms the blood and bones of Claude Chabrol’s classic 1970 thriller. Set in the heart of the Dordogne close to one of the region’s prehistoric caves, Popaul (Jean Yanne) is a needy … Continue reading →

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Paris Nous Appartient (Paris Belongs to Us)

Posted on February 22, 2016 by

Wide spaces and open ideas connect with paranoia and penned-in desire in Jacques Rivette’s first feature, the title of which is inspired by Charles Péguy’s reflection that Paris belongs to those who spend the summer there preparing for the winter … Continue reading →

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Un Plus Une

Posted on November 11, 2015 by

Claude Lelouch flings opens the doors, shows us heightened-colours of India, and lets love happen Continue reading →

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Nelly et Monsieur Arnaud (Nelly and Mr Arnaud)

Posted on October 22, 2015 by

Nelly (Emmanuelle Béart) is the muse and Mr Arnaud (Michel Serrault) is the man who loves from afar. Desire undeclared, is thus the soft wind that passes through the corridors and large rooms of Mr Arnaud’s smart Parisian apartment. Mr … Continue reading →

Posted in Emmanuelle Béart, French Cinema, French Film, French film Review, French Movie, French Movie Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Les Biches (The Does)

Posted on October 2, 2015 by

Claude Chabrol’s take on sexual ambiguity in 1968 is mischievous. Stéphane Audran plays the resplendent Frédérique, nouvelle vague’s colonialist of female lust and control. She’s the wealthy dominatrix who wants power over those she desires, and she pursues them with … Continue reading →

Posted in Claude Chabrol, Film Review, French Cinema, French Film, French film Review, French Movie, French Movie Review, French Movie Reviews, French Movies, Gender, Lesbian Films, Lesbian Movies, Nouvelle Vague, Sexuality, St. Tropez, The New Wave | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment