This film just makes you smile… until it breaks your heart that is. Unlike any other musical, director Jacques Demy creates a grand tale of young love that in an artistic way heightens the feelings and emotions to an operatic level.
Part of the film’s charm is that all the dialogue is sung in French. It just seems right that young lovers should be singing in French. 17-year-old Geneviève (Catherine Deneuve, BELLE DE JOUR) is in love with 20-year-old mechanic Guy (Nino Castelnuovo, THE ENGLISH PATIENT). Her mother (Anne Vernon) doesn’t think that her daughter is ready for a serious relationship and really doesn’t know what love is all about. But that can’t stop Geneviève and Guy.
However, a war can. Guy is drafted to a two-year military service and must leave his Geneviève. During his absence things happen to pull them apart and the rich jewel dealer Roland Cassard (Marc Michel) moves into the picture.
The color palette of the sets and costumes just jumps from the screen. It enlivens the story and adds unthinkable power to the proceedings. It’s like the emotions of the character bleed out onto the scenery. The grand nature of the entire production seems to get to the core of the character’s emotions, which we can all relate to, more directly than if the film were played straight.
The story is simple, but allows artistic flourishes to raise the material to another level. This film isn’t just about style, however the style makes the film what it is. Deneuve is ravishing and the handsome Castelnuovo brings a quiet sadness to his role when it’s needed. It’s a marvelous ode to young love like only the French could do.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
