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.
© James Travers 2001
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Eric Rohmer film:
Conte d'hiver (1992)
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...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.