Conte d'été (1996)
Directed by Eric Rohmer

Film Review

The third film in Rohmer's ambitious Four Seasons cycle is a sunny tale about one man's faltering quest for a summer romance.  Filmed on the picturesque Brittany coastline in glorious summer sunshine, with an exuberant cast of talented young actors, this is easily the sunniest of the four films.

The contradictions and uncertainties of youth afford ample opportunity for comic relief, although Rohmer uses the comic elements sparingly, but to remarkable effect.  Absent is the sense of dry melancholia which lingers over Rohmer's other films (particularly his Conte d'automne).

Although a notch warmer than most of his other films, this film is characteristically Rohmer.  The former stalwart of the French New Wave has complete control over his medium, captivating his audience - at least those who want to listen - with some remarkably incisive and believable dialogue.

Although in his seventies when he made this film, Rohmer displays an uncanny understanding of the psychology and mannerisms of young people.  You could easily believe that the film was made by a much younger director.

Rohmer is excellently served by his small cast of actors, particularly Melvil Poupaud (a formidable talent previously revealed in Jacques Doillon's La Fille de 15 ans (1989) and Danièle Dubroux's Le Journal du séducteur (1996)) who plays the moody yet compelling Gaspard.   The director is well known for getting the best from his actors, but here he should have no difficulty, with such a wealth of talent to work with.  Poupaud is simply perfect in his part.

Each film in the cycle has a dominate theme.  In Conte d'été that theme is one of choice - albeit choice in a pretty safe context.  Within no time at all, Gaspard ends up in the unenviable position of having to choose between three women - not for life, but for a whirlwind romance.  It may be an inconsequential event in his life, but at his young age Gaspard sees it as an insurmountable dilemma, and he earns our sympathies very easily.

There is no great drama, no histrionics, no shocks in this film.  Instead we are treated to a magnificently perceptive tale of summertime flirtation, but one which has so much to say about life. Rohmer would satisfactorily complete his cycle of seasons films with one of his most enchanting films, Conte d'automne (1998).

Film Synopsis

Gaspard, an introspective maths student, plans to spend his summer holidays in the Brittany town of Dinard.  When his girlfriend Léna fails to turn up as agreed he is left alone to lie on the beach and compose songs with his guitar.  He strikes up a friendship with Margot, a student of about his own age who has a part-time job in a café.  Still thinking of Léna, Gaspard is reluctant to get emotionally involved with Margot, so they remain just good friends.  Over the days that follow, she remains his closest confidante.  He then meets Solène, a far more tempting proposition.  Gaspard has long wanted to take a trip to to the remote island of Ushant,  and he imagines that Solène would make the ideal companion on such a trip.  He even dedicates one of his songs to her - the surest sign that he is falling for her.  But then, all of a sudden, Léna shows up and Gaspard finds himself torn between three attractive young women, none of whom is quite what he is looking for...