This film is being screened at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall as part of the New York Film Festival at 9:15 tonight Friday (10/2)and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
NEW YORK -- Just in time for fall, Eric Rohmer continues his "Tales of the Four Seasons'' with "A Tale of Winter, '' a delightfully warm but overly drawn-out love story.
Keeping up the tradition of last year's "A Tale of Spring, '' Rohmer again graces this year's New York Film Festival with his latest ruminations on life. While "A Tale of Winter'' is certain to warm the cockles of art-house attendees everywhere, some non-Rohmerians will find this film's verbosity a bit overwhelming.
Though there is some striking cinematography early on, there is an overall scarcity of camera movement -- and human movement, for that matter -- which at times makes for tough viewing.
It is unclear whether Rohmer is more interested in spewing out his own life's philosophies or having his characters help define his attitudes. In either case, the humorously rambling dialogues are sporadically enjoyable, if not cinematic.
The film opens with a beautiful montage of the brief but obviously serious affair between Felicie (Charlotte Very) and Charles (Frederic Van Den Driessche). This inviting sequence looks like a tourist-attracting travelogue.
Upon parting, Felicie gives Charles her address. Cut to five years later. We learn that Felicie mistakenly gave Charles the wrong address, and though she's had other lovers since, she is still waiting for her great love to reclaim her.
There's also the matter of Elise (Ava Loraschi), the unbearably cute product of Felicie and
There's also the matter of Elise (Ava Loraschi), the unbearably cute product of Felicie andCharles' brief affair. She keeps a picture of her "daddy'' on her dresser, obviously keeping the faith of her mother's fantasy.
While waiting for Charles' unlikely reappearance, Felicie alternates between breaking the hearts of Loic (Herve Furic), an intellectual, and Maxence (Michel Voletti), a hairdresser. Felicie thinks of herself as a great romantic, but she is also callous with her brutal honesty. She tells Loic, "If I ever live in a man's house again, it won't be yours.'' She then asks if she can spend the night with him.
There are many funny moments within this "Tale, '' but they are offset by much of the plodding diatribes and a boring, quite long scene in which we are forced to watch a Shakespeare play. Some extra editing would be most welcome.
Very is awfully appealing, even if her character has some major flaws. But the hit of the film is young Loraschi. She is so natural and lovable in front of the camera that one almost hopes she never makes another film, for fear of tainting this perfect memory.
A TALE OF WINTER
Les Films du Losange
Director-writer Eric Rohmer
Photographer Luc Pages
Editor Mary Stephen
Music Sebastien Erms
Producer Margaret Menegoz
Color
In French, with subtitles
Cast:
Felicie Charlotte Very
Charles Frederic Van Den Driessche
Maxence Michel Voletti
Loic Herve Furic
Elise Ava Loraschi
The mother Christiane Desbois
Running time -- 114 minutes
No MPAA rating
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
NEW YORK -- Just in time for fall, Eric Rohmer continues his "Tales of the Four Seasons'' with "A Tale of Winter, '' a delightfully warm but overly drawn-out love story.
Keeping up the tradition of last year's "A Tale of Spring, '' Rohmer again graces this year's New York Film Festival with his latest ruminations on life. While "A Tale of Winter'' is certain to warm the cockles of art-house attendees everywhere, some non-Rohmerians will find this film's verbosity a bit overwhelming.
Though there is some striking cinematography early on, there is an overall scarcity of camera movement -- and human movement, for that matter -- which at times makes for tough viewing.
It is unclear whether Rohmer is more interested in spewing out his own life's philosophies or having his characters help define his attitudes. In either case, the humorously rambling dialogues are sporadically enjoyable, if not cinematic.
The film opens with a beautiful montage of the brief but obviously serious affair between Felicie (Charlotte Very) and Charles (Frederic Van Den Driessche). This inviting sequence looks like a tourist-attracting travelogue.
Upon parting, Felicie gives Charles her address. Cut to five years later. We learn that Felicie mistakenly gave Charles the wrong address, and though she's had other lovers since, she is still waiting for her great love to reclaim her.
There's also the matter of Elise (Ava Loraschi), the unbearably cute product of Felicie and
There's also the matter of Elise (Ava Loraschi), the unbearably cute product of Felicie andCharles' brief affair. She keeps a picture of her "daddy'' on her dresser, obviously keeping the faith of her mother's fantasy.
While waiting for Charles' unlikely reappearance, Felicie alternates between breaking the hearts of Loic (Herve Furic), an intellectual, and Maxence (Michel Voletti), a hairdresser. Felicie thinks of herself as a great romantic, but she is also callous with her brutal honesty. She tells Loic, "If I ever live in a man's house again, it won't be yours.'' She then asks if she can spend the night with him.
There are many funny moments within this "Tale, '' but they are offset by much of the plodding diatribes and a boring, quite long scene in which we are forced to watch a Shakespeare play. Some extra editing would be most welcome.
Very is awfully appealing, even if her character has some major flaws. But the hit of the film is young Loraschi. She is so natural and lovable in front of the camera that one almost hopes she never makes another film, for fear of tainting this perfect memory.
A TALE OF WINTER
Les Films du Losange
Director-writer Eric Rohmer
Photographer Luc Pages
Editor Mary Stephen
Music Sebastien Erms
Producer Margaret Menegoz
Color
In French, with subtitles
Cast:
Felicie Charlotte Very
Charles Frederic Van Den Driessche
Maxence Michel Voletti
Loic Herve Furic
Elise Ava Loraschi
The mother Christiane Desbois
Running time -- 114 minutes
No MPAA rating
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 10/1/1992
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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