Un homme qui me plaît (1969) - film review

Françoise, a well-known actress, arrives in the United States to make a film.  Whilst in Los Angeles, she meets Henri, a French composer who has come to America to record the music for a film.  Although each has a family back in Europe, Françoise and Henri become lovers and make use of a break in their schedule to make a tour of the country.  How long will the whirlwind romance last…?

Un homme qui me plait is another variation on a kind of film which director Claude Lelouch handles particularly well – the romantic drama.  This film is particularly memorable for its almost realist style, achieved through Lelouch’s constantly roving camera (which gives certain sequences a rough and ready New Wave feel) and some unusually naturalistic performances from its lead actors (who look as if they are improvising most of their dialogue).  Effective use is made of another beautiful score from Francis Lai, the music drenching the latter part of the film with a cruel sense of irony.   Whilst the middle portion of the film feels somewhat slow and aimless, the fascinating rapport between Girardot and Belmondo sustains our interest.  Overall, this is one of Claude Lelouch’s more mature and emotionally engaging films, with some nice comic touches and a particularly poignant ending.

© James Travers 2006

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