ERIC ROHMER

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBB.5

Original title:  Conte D’Automne

France, 1998.  La Sept Cinema, Les Films du Losange, Rhone-Alpes Cinema, Sofadinko.  Screenplay by Eric Rohmer.  Cinematography by Diane Baratier.  Produced by Francoise Etchegaray.  Music by Claude Marti, Gerard Pansanel, Pierre Peyras, Antonello Salis.  Production Design by Claire Champion.  Film Editing by Mary Stephen.  

Charming little French farce from director Eric Rohmer, whose films can always be counted on to be breezy, light and so natural in feel and movement. In this poignant piece, a woman living in the country is best friends with her Tunisian farmer neighbour and decides to end her friend’s loneliness by setting her up with a man she meets in a personal ad.

The woman’s children also have their own storylines with their own romantic mixups as well, and like any good French film it all works itself out at a big party in a large country chateau. Nothing exhilarating, but an enjoyably frothy night at the movies all the same.

Toronto International Film Festival:  1998

Venice Film Festival Award:  Best Screenplay