(out of 5)
A musician in Paris (Jess Hahn) lives off friends and the occasional gig, constantly expecting an inheritance to come in and make him a rich man. When his aunt dies and he finds out he’s going to inherit millions, Hahn throws a terrific bash with all of his friends who subsequently leave town for their summer vacations. Little do they know that his aunt left all her money to Hahn’s cousin and he is now without home or possessions and must wander the streets of Paris a beggar. Eric Rohmer captures a painful level of believability while at the same time taking in the beauty of Paris, a city of love and laughter that has nothing to offer a person with no money. Watching this man’s descent into nothingness is painful but at the same time compelling, and Hahn’s performance in the lead is excellent.
Directed by Eric Rohmer
Screenplay by Eric Rohmer, dialogue by Paul Gegauff
Cinematography by Nicolas Hayer
Produced by Claude Chabrol
Music by Louis Saguer
Film Editing by Anne-Marie Cotret, Marie-Josèphe Yoyotte