Conte de printemps (1990)
Directed by Eric Rohmer

Film Review

Conte de printemps is the first instalment in Eric Rohmer's four-part cycle entitled Contes des quatre saisons (The Four Seasons Tales).  All four films involve a romantic theme played against a particular season of the year, the season reflecting the nature of the subject. The subsequent films in the series are: Conte d'hiver (1992), Conte d'été (1996) and Conte d'automne (1998).

The style and substance of the film are uniquely Rohmer: an intimate examination of the interaction between a small number of people, with feelings and ideas expressed though some precise but seemingly naturalistic dialogue.  By using inexperienced actors, Rohmer achieves an engaging feeling of spontaneity which heightens the believability of the situations into which he places his characters.  The result is compelling cinema which, because it feels so real, strikes an immediate chord with the viewer.

A major theme for Conte de printemps is how negative thoughts, such as jealousy or suspicion, can poison human relationships and result in conflict.  Natacha is on the surface a very pleasant middle-class adolescent, but she sees the worst in her father's girlfriend because she believes she stole her necklace.  Similarly, when she finds herself alone with Natacha's father, Jeanne immediately suspects that is the victim of some blatant matchmaking.  Natacha's father reaches the same conclusion but he is more willing to exploit the situation.  The way in which these negative thoughts change the characters' outlook and moderate their behaviour, in such subtle, unpredictable ways, is what makes this film so compelling.  It is rare in cinema that such human responses are conveyed in such an engaging way and believable way. Although not quite as satisfying as some of the later films in the Four Seasons cycle this is a pleasing film which certainly encourages you to watch the other films.

Film Synopsis

Jeanne is a high school teacher of philosophy who finds herself temporarily homeless when her fiancé Mathieu goes away for a few days.  Rather than remain in Mathieu's untidy apartment, Jeanne prefers to return to her own studio flat, but this is still occupied by her cousin Gaëlle, to whom she lent it for a supposedly brief stay in Paris.  At a housewarming party, Jeanne meets Natacha, who offers her a room in her large apartment whilst her father Igor is away, living with his girlfriend Ève, a young student.  Natacha clearly doesn't approve of his father's latest amorous conquest and sees Jeanne as a far more suitable match.  After spending the weekend at a house in Fontainebleau owned by Igor, Natacha and Jeanne return to Paris the best of friends.  Igor is invited to have dinner with them, but of course he turns up with Ève.  Natacha and Ève leave after getting into an argument, and Jeanne soon finds herself on the receiving end of Igor's charm offensive...