El amante de cinco días

This creation by Philippe de Broca stars Jean Seberg in a somewhat surprising role for a society just rolling out of the 1950s... François Périer does an excellent job as her eccentric historian husband. This was my second viewing of the film, which I now believe is better than it seemed the first time. The images are all very pleasantly photographed and the work offers a rather unorthodox treatment of the topic of marital infidelity.

Easily the most satisfying of the three films that Philippe de Broca made with Jean-Pierre Cassel between 1960 and 1961. In this frivolous, bittersweet comedy Claire, who is married with two children, has an affair with Antoine who is being kept by an older woman played by Micheline Presle. The quartet of stars is fabulous and the performance that steals the show is that of Francois Périer as the understanding husband.

The settings of Paris and Versailles not to mention the magical theme music of Georges Delerue all add to the films appeal.

In the opening scene we see the enchanting Claire of Jean Seberg being 'picked up' all too quickly by the charming Cassel as Antoine. Needless to say the affair runs its course and although she goes back to her husband, the final, haunting scene makes us wonder if it is only a question of time before she strays again.

It is such a pity that Seberg tired of working in France as Truffaut was by all accounts an admirer of her work and would have liked her to star in 'La Nuit Americaine'. Back in Hollywood it would not be long before the storm clouds gathered over this lovely and sensitive actress.

Described as a comedy this film is really a "comedie" in the French meaning. It is drama with a smile on its face. The final scene is moving and hauntingly etched in memory forever. Never was Jean Seberg so lovely in spite of portraying a woman approaching middle age. One of the greats!

In Broca's career,it's the follow up to "Le Farceur" with the same actor Jean-Pierre Cassel ;this time,the director has all the trumps but one :

-Four brilliant actors:besides Cassel,François Périer as an archivist whose passion for history becomes a bore his wife courageously stands;Micheline Presles as a socialite with a lorgnette;and above all,a brunette Jean Seberg ,extremely beautiful,with a wonderful expressive look.The precedent user is entirely right when he wrote that she was never as attractive as in this film.

-As usual,a delightful score by Georges Delerue ,Paris waltz style.

-A remarkable black and white cinematography ,enhancing Paris and the country landscapes.

Unfortunately ,the screenplay is terribly derivative :these light-hearted banters make the movie seem like a luxurious box,as magnificent as Madeleine's desirable mansion ,but hollow.

I like De Broca's following works best:"Cartouche" "L'Homme De Rio" and his overlooked masterpiece "Le Roi De Cœur" .