Zander’s Weblog

Another film by Louis Malle and set in the south of France in 1944. Beautifully filmed with gorgeous locations and an equally pretty lead (Pierre Blaise), but slowly paced and “atmospheric”–the characters never say quite enough to reveal who they are or what their motivations might be and I struggled to like any of them. The lead is a villian, but as the father of the girl he is banging put it, “It is strange. I cannot seem to bring myself to despise you completely.”

I picked up this film in a NetFlix sweep of director Louis Malle’s films. Although for the 40 minutes or so I gave it I could appreciate its quality, I ultimately blew out. When the psychology of the plot doesn’t ring true for me I tend to lose interest quickly–and this film’s psychology was worthy of Jerry Springer. I could not bring myself to comprehend why any of the main characters would ever ever associate with those with whom they were involved. Sorry, Louis.