woodwardgirling

An intense film about a difficult and volatile relationship set in a district of Paris. Muriel (Nathalie Baye) meets Samuel (Daniel Duval) on the train, he says he would like to spend the night with her. Later he tracks her down and in spite of herself, Muriel enters into a relationship with Daniel, which is the subject of the film. Samuel proves to be a proud passionate and insanely jealous man. Muriel is a successful film editor who lives alone but involved in a relationship that is coming to an end. Why should she entertain Samuel with his male machismo, his temper, his rough sex and his possesiveness, well the film succeeds in making us believe that she would. Nathalie Baye and Daniel Duval really rub sparks together, whether they are fighting making love or eating out in public. They are on screen nearly all the time and the intensity of their relationship is echoed by the films concentration on them.

The film explores other issues as well. Samuels ethnic background (probably North African) and his attitudes to women, Nathalie and the Successful Sophisticated Parisians in Nathalies circle. Two worlds collide indeed. This film is well worth seeing if at times a little uncomfortable. Brilliantly acted particularly by Duvall who has the difficult task of making his character sympathetic and succeeds.

The film takes place just as the second world war is ending in France, but before the armistice. It opens on a village in rural France where the inhabitants are preparing to welcome the victorious Americam troops. However news is sketchy in this confusing period of history and this is well captured in the film. Three boys of the village get into trouble with the local authorities and run away, they meet and befriend a deserting German soldier and an Alsation dogs tags along as well. The film focuses on the adventures that befall this group as they travel around the countryside.

This is not a Disney type tale of adventurous children, although the French countryside is beautifully filmed mostly in glorious sunshine the humour is black. Richard Bohringer is excellent as the German soldier portraying a man weary of the war and happy to travel along with his new found family. The group all have their own reasons for avoiding other people who may or may not be a threat to them, but the trust builds up between the boys and the soldier to the extent where one of the boys is happily carrying the German's rifle. The search for information and food takes priority as the relationships within the group develop. The film successfully portrays a difficult and confusing time in France. It feels realistic,theses events or those like them could easily have happened.

I mentioned that the humour is black and there is much that is amusing, but the lightness of touch at no time hides the possibility of a tragedy around the corner. This is a country at war and the film does not let us forget that. This film is well worth a look