FULL MOON IN PARIS (LES NUITS DE LA PLEINE LUNE) (director/writer: Eric Rohmer; cinematographer: Renato Berta; editor: Cécile Decugis; music: Jacno; cast: Pascale Ogier (Louise), Tcheky Karyo (Remi), Fabrice Luchini (Octave), Christian Vadim (Bastien), Virginie Thevenet (Camille), Anne-Severine Liotard (Marianne), László Szabó(Painter at Cafe); Runtime: 101; MPAA Rating: R; producer: Margaret Ménégoz; Fox Lorber; 1984-France-in French with English subtitles)“One of the better dating scene relationship films I’ve seen.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
French director Eric Rohmer (“My Night at Maud’s“/”Clair’s Knee“/”Autumn Tale“)masterfully spins this sophisticated romantic-comedy about the problems that can arise in relationships between a couple who can’t decide how much time they want to spend with each other and one of them is perplexed about how much freedom the other wants.It’s one of the better dating scene relationship films I’ve seen.
The perky fashionable Louise (Pascale Ogier)works as a young trainee textile designer in Paris but lives in the suburbs, in a “new town,” with her boyfriend Remi (Tcheky Karyo), who is a decent guy, is athletic and has a good position in the town planning department (his office created the new town). The restless Louise maintains a small apartment in Paris to keep her independence, as she likes to go out regularly in the city while Remi is a stay-at-home suburban guy. Louise’s aim is not promiscuity, but likes the feeling of being free and not tied down in a claustrophobic relationship. Remi doesn’t see things this way but decides he likes her enough to agree with her arrangement, but it irks him that they hardly see each other.
Louise goes out with her married self-absorbed writer friend Octave (Fabrice Luchini), who wants a physical relationship but she toys with him as a safe date and as a confidante. In the ensuing monthsLouise sleeps alone on week-ends in her Paris pied-à-terre, where she creatively makes designer lamps and parties in Paris with her flighty social friends. The only time Louise is unfaithful to Remi is with a hipster sax player, Bastien (Christian Vadim), but she feels uncomfortable sleeping with him in her apartment and returns the next morning to the suburbs. Only she’s in for a rude awakening, as Remi has found the girl of his dreams, her superficial friend Camille’s roommate Marianne, and Louise learns a valuable lesson about not knowing what you got until it’s too late and it’s gone.
REVIEWED ON 8/22/2011 GRADE: A-
Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”
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