Un coeur simple is an inspired
adaptation of one of Gustave Flaubert lesser known works, a short story
which, like his better known Madame
Bovary, is concerned with a woman's yearning for an unattainable
passion. It is the first full length film to be directed by
Marion Laine and in places it does show the telltale signs of a first film - in
its uneven narrative, the poorly
developed secondary characters and one or two artistic over-indulgences
(such as the unnecessary use of slow motion photography).
Over all, however, the film has much to commend it. Intense,
introspective performances from Sandrine Bonnaire and Marina Foïs
convey the torment and quiet despair of two women who fail to find
fulfilment in their lives and whose only solace is their uneasy
companionship. Meanwhile, the sets and naturalistic photography
perfectly evoke Flaubert's sombre world of rural hardship and bourgeois
artificiality. Whilst the film may lack the force and humanity of
Flaubert's writing, it is still a strangely compelling and moving work,
pleasing with its understated poetry and moments of exquisite poignancy.
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Film Synopsis
Félicité may have the appearance of a simpleton but she is
a young woman of the purest heart, born to love others even if they cannot
love her with the same sincerity. She is easy prey for Théodore,
a selfish young man who steals her heart and then abandons her. As
she comes to terms with this disappointment, Félicité begins
working for Madame Aubain as a housekeeper and childminder. She soon
finds two worthy recipients of her affection in her employer's young children,
Paul and Clémence. Madame Aubain naturally disapproves of her
servant's familiarity with her offspring and is too haughty to see that Félicité
is providing them with the affection that has long been deprived them.
On her days off, Félicité visits her young nephew Victor, whom
she knows she can love without fear of disapproval. The years pass,
the children grow up, and the heart aches come in quick succession.
How can Félicité bear the news that her beloved Victor has
died not long after enlisting in the navy? How can she cope with the
equally devastating news that her angelic Clémence has passed away?
For Madame Aubain, who hasn't even the consolation of knowing that her daughter
had her love, the blow is even more painfully felt...
From Jean Renoir to François Truffaut, French cinema has no shortage of truly great filmmakers, each bringing a unique approach to the art of filmmaking.
In the 1940s, the shadowy, skewed visual style of 1920s German expressionism was taken up by directors of American thrillers and psychological dramas, creating that distinctive film noir look.