Hélène Wilfur, a young girl of modest means, continues her studies at the University of Grenoble with a view to obtaining a doctorate in science, under the direction of a master whom she venerates, and whose research on the treatment of cancer is authoritative. , Professor Amboise.
Hélène has many work friends: Françoise, Marcel and the fun-loving "Durand Tout-Court". But his heart beats above all for Pierre Régnier, son of an old country doctor, who dreams of pursuing a musical career.
Jean -Benoit Levy produced a handful of movies which are too often overlooked , pedagogically interesting at best ;and yet "peau de pêche" "le coeur de Paris" "la mort du cygne " ,"altitude 2000"
are intriguing works , different from the thirties zeitgeist .
Like "la maternelle" ,it was co-directed by Jean Epstein's sister,Marie , which may explain the strong feminist side. Madeleine Renaud who starred in "la maternelle " and later would be a female aviator for Jean Grémillon ("le ciel est à vous" ) is ideally cast as a determined scientist (novelist Vicki Baum was perhaps inspired by Marie Curie ) in a macho world : "A woman's place is at home" " I'd rather have a male assistant" says professor Ambroise ,before realizing , long after his disdain, she's the most gifted student he has ever had ; in 1936 ,when women were relegated to the kitchen and to children caring ,it was daring .
On the other hand ,her squeeze,Pierre (Jean -Louis
Barrault ,Renaud's husband in real life)is frail , romantic, and he hates his medical studies ,dreaming of becoming a musician ;but his terminally-ill father needs him to replace him for his patients in his rural region .His fate is completely unexpected ,and a tad melodramatic, but the director completely eschew pathos,sentimentality and Hélène's attitude might seem cold ,heartless and selfish ;besides, the police 'investigation it's overkill .
But now Hélène can devote herself to her work ,an unwed mom,at that! She urges the professor to carry on with his research ,even though he has failed ,and probably often will in the future. If you're looking for the feminist movie in the French cinema of the thirties ,this is it!
