Film Review
Nuit d'été en ville is possibly director Michel Deville's most daring
film, and certainly one of his most intimate, a far cry from the whimsical
comedies (such as
L'Apartement
des filles (1963)) with which he started his illustrious career. The narrative could
hardly be simpler - a man and a woman talk playfully to find out something about one another between one
bout of passionate lovemaking and another (neither of which is shown on screen).
It would have been virtually impossible for any director to sustain such a simple storyline
for an hour and a half without two extraordinarily talented actors and a rather special
piece of scripting - but
Nuit d'été en ville has both of these.
Jean-Hugues Anglade and Marie Trintignant are perfectly cast - and not just because of
their physical beauty (which Deville exploits by having both actors perform fully naked
for the first half of the film). In their previous films, both Anglade and Trintignant
have revealed a dark, mysterious aspect to their personas, and this film reinforces this
impression, in spite of its seemingly anodyne subject. We are constantly intrigued
by the characters they portray with such depth and cool enigmatic charm. There
is the sense that we are spying - somewhat guiltily - on that most intimate of human experiences,
learning about two lovers at the same time that they learn about each other. This
voyeuristic approach is employed by Deville in much of his work, but seldom as skilfully
and as appropriately as in this film.
Nuit d'été en ville is clearly not a film for all tastes; it demands
both patience and attention from its spectator, for this is film minimalism at its most
extreme. All the drama and tension resides in the dialogue and in the subtle rapport
of the two actors. For those who can appreciate this kind of slow-moving, introspective
drama,
Nuit d'été en ville offers a rewarding cinematic experience
- a work of striking poetry and humanism, and a candid, intelligent portrayal of that
most intimate of human relationships.
© James Travers 2004
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Next Michel Deville film:
Toutes peines confondues (1992)
Film Synopsis
Having made love for the first time, a young couple attempt to get to know one another.
Neither had expected anything more than a one-night stand when he, Louis, accepted an
invitation from her, Emilie, back to her apartment one hot summer's evening. As
they talk, they enter into each other's lives, and it becomes clear that their relationship
will last well beyond the next morning…
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.