Part two of Eric Rohmer's ongoing series of stories, this one concerns a love triangle of sorts. Bertrand and Guillaume meet Suzanne, a young, plain-looking woman. Bertrand decides not to pursue her, but Guillaume does, and once he's made her his, he pushes her aside. Angered, Suzanne flirts with Bertrand and asks him out in order to make Guillaume jealous. What takes place is a series of events in which both young men take advantage of Suzanne who is somewhat of a mousy character throughout part of Rohmer's plot, but who takes charge in the short movie's later half. SUZANNE'S CAREER also concerns a constant in Rohmer's "Six Moral Tales" theme: the man who is attracted to a woman he does not want, and idealizes another woman he does want (or already is engaged/married to). Normally the spurned woman is not to the type of the protagonist's liking, and the one he is in love with, is. Sophie, in this story, represents that ideal for Bertrand even when to the viewer she appears rather dull and Suzanne has shown a greater personality than originally displayed. Not as talky as LE GENOU DE CLAIRE (indeed, no movie can be!) this one has a little more wit to it, even when it's a little flat here and there.
Review of Suzanne's Career
