FRANCOIS TRUFFAUT
Bil’s rating (out of 5): BBBBB.
Original title: Baisers Voles
France, 1968. Les Films du Carrosse, Les Productions Artistes Associes. Scenario and dialogue by Francois Truffaut, Claude de Givray, Bernard Revon. Cinematography by Denys Clerval. Produced by Marcel Berbert, Francois Truffaut. Music by Antoine Duhamel. Production Design by Claude Pignot. Film Editing by Agnes Guillemot. Podcast: My Criterions.
The second feature concerning Antoine Doinel, the hero of The 400 Blows and the short film Antoine Et Colette, this marvelous comedy starts with the optimistic Doinel (Jean-Pierre Léaud) being released from prison on a dishonourable discharge. Now an adult, his first step as a man-about-town is to find the nearest whorehouse and enjoy an afternoon with the world’s oldest profession. Then he goes looking for work, and throughout the film takes on a disparity of charmingly adventurous jobs. Meanwhile, his quest to succeed with the ladies continues, this time involving a beautiful young woman (Claude Jade) with whom he has been longtime friends, and a stunning lady (Delphine Seyrig at her most bewitching) whose husband owns the shoe store that Doinel works in for a while. This film is so airy and enjoyable you’ll hardly even notice the time go by.
The Criterion Collection: #186
Academy Award Nomination: Best Foreign Language Film
Golden Globe Award Nomination: Best Foreign Language Foreign Film
