A Summer's Tale

Eric Rohmer's characters are mostly intellectuals, and mostly not so bright. On one hand, this is to Rohmer's credit, since it's realistic; on the other hand, the rarer characters with more penetrating intelligence (as in, especially, "My Night at Maude's") are nicer to listen to. Rohmer's characters love to yak on about ideas, art, and their feelings. The talk, on the most literal level, is generally unpersuasive, but relationships are formed through enjoyment of conversation, and character (not limited to vanity) is revealed via defensiveness and posturing. "A Summer's Tale" follows twenty-something Gaspard during his summer vacation at a seaside resort town in Brittany. The people in the movie have fewer blind spots than most Rohmer characters, but not fewer difficulties. For a theme song, I'd suggest Weird Al Yankovic's "Good Enough For Now." The girl Gaspard had planned to meet alternately blows him off and strings him along. Another girl he meets, with whom there is palpable chemistry, has a distant boyfriend she doesn't seem very attached to. He vacillates on a third he is not crazy about but who bluntly conveys that she would take him. Gaspard is turned down twice for a romantic relationship (though not told to get lost entirely), and does the turning down once. The interactions exhibit a believable mixture of genuine affection, indecision, and awkwardness. Rough edges are not glossed over as they might be by romanticism or in recollection. These might have been ingredients for a dull virtuous accuracy. But "A Summer's Tale" moves at a good pace, turns in the story feel natural and mostly not inevitable, and the whole is affecting and memorable.

A young Frenchman on holiday at a seaside resort juggles tenuous relationships with three young women in this light hearted and understated film. Most of the film sees our young hero involved in long walks and talks as he explores the moral issues of who to love and who to leave. Those interested in lots of conversation and reading subtitles (if they don't speak French) may enjoy this winsome little flick. Others may find it tedious and uneventful.

This movie is about a math student (who is a bad mixer) and has to choose between three girls but instead he chooses a stereo mixer. If you have seen and liked any other fim of E. Rohmer, then you won't be disappointed by this one.

Dull French film from this reputable director is "A Summer's Tale" about a teenage guy who finds himself in a dilemma, having to chose between three girls during his summer riposte. Writer/director Eric Rohmer's film could be about the youth of today's lack of ability to be decisive, or perhaps it was focusing on their fear of commitment. "A Summer's Tale" could have been many things, but one thing it was not was interesting. Rarely does the pic grab our attention. The young cast try hard, but they too are left floundering by the weak, non-directional plot. Only Amanda Langlet, as the friendly Margot, delivers a showing that could be called memorable. This young thesp actually handles all the facets of the role very competently. Langlet is the only light though, in a bland coming of age film. Even the classy French scenery is somehow over-looked. Monday, May 4, 1998 - Hoyts Croydon