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Rohmer's "The Bakery Girl of Monceau." Well, I'm prejudiced against

Posted by tinear on June 8, 2007 at 06:13:15:
this film because I empathized so fully with the lead (played by a very young Barbet Schroeder who was central to Rohmer's early career): I too was attracted to both objects of his attraction:
The icy, classic beauty of the almost unassailable, unapproachable blonde versus the earthy, almost innocent looking yet voluptuously-figured eponymous character. What a dilemma!
Rohmer, of course, is using this simple tale of lovelorn distraction to make subtle--- and he is the King of Subtlety--- points about rationalism vs. idealism, idealism vs. reality, and also, the considerations of class difference in romance.
The Netflix single film version I highly recommend (there is another which it stocks which bundles it with another "Moral Tale.")
The single version has a very early Rohmer short but, most interestingly, an interview conducted last year by Schroeder!
The two old friends do much more than reminisce: facts critical to an understanding and appreciation of Rohmer are revealed, including his views on voice over, dialogue, and narration; cinematography; home viewing vs. theater (fascinating!); acting "takes" and rehearsals; professional vs. amateur actors; etc.
So meticulous was Rohmer that in one film's preparation, Schroeder lightly teased him, he spent much time and effort searching for the correct shade of gray for... a carpet.
In all of his films, Rohmer shared, he also planned on a palette of colors, going so far as to have the script covers bound in them.
Anyhow, be wary of just being amused by this film: it is not just one of the most charming vignettes you could spend time with: it also has something to say about human frailty, honesty, and conviction. In that regard, it shares much with that other French genius who crafted a series of works on "Morals," Balzac.
Schroeder, who as a young man had an open and honest appearance which was very effective in his portrayal of the young and shy (though not naive) law student, said that he never saw himself as an actor and that, therefore, he wasn't particularly upset (at all!) when his voice was dubbed. However, the way in which he said this, some forty years after the fact, and Rohmer's somewhat dubious stare at him as he related this, was.... interesting.
Get it, see it.