La Palombière
1983 Drama / Romance   
 
Credits
  • Director: Jean-Pierre Denis
  • Script: Jean-Pierre Denis, Denis Gheerbrant
  • Photo: Denis Gheerbrant
  • Music: Jean Musy
  • Cast: Jean-Claude Bourbault (Paul), Christiane Millet (Claire), Nadine Reynaud (Sylvette), Georges Vaur (Le père), Daniel Jégou (Le rival), Odile Raynaud (Odile), Jean-Michel Dominique (Alain), Didier Audebert (Pascal), Serge Dominique (Claude), Marcel Roche (Le maire)
  • Country: France
  • Language: French / Occitan
  • Runtime: 90 min
  • Aka: Hideout
 
 
 
Summary
A young schoolteacher Claire takes up a temporary position at a school in a rural French village.  An odd-job man, Paul, who passes his spare time hunting pigeons, is immediately attracted towards her.  Although she already has a boyfriend, Claire ultimately succumbs to Paul’s charms...

Review
After viewing Jean Pierre Denis’ striking début work, Histoire d’Adrien, which won the Caméra d’or award at Cannes in 1980, La Palombière is something of a disappointment.  Whilst the photography captures the cold bleakness and poetic austerity of its Provençal setting, its dull characterisation, sparse narrative and sense of detachment make it a hard film to engage with.

© James Travers 2001


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