Ritratto nella memoria

If you see this film as a tv movie chances are the broadcaster's watermark will wipe out the subtitles, another reason to buy the video. When I saw this film for the first time I thought it was another American made girl flick so I occupied myself with other things(heh heh). The closing credits intrigued me however(Sean Young, Nell Carter, Aumont, Moreau) so I rented the video. I suppose I rated this a ten because I find most European films worthy of artistic praise, which is what this is, although it is obviously trying to serve an American audience. The French, in particular, have a way with invention that sidesteps stereotyping. Older people don't appear as saints or fools. Americans don't appear as total idiots. Youth isn't always blunt and naive. And life isn't telegraphed. So an otherwise boring girl flick turns into something worth watching.

I saw this at the Chicago International Film Festival the autumn of its release. Before the film started, the producers and Madame Moreau made an appearance at the theatre and came to talk a few moments. There were about 25 people in the audience. What an embarrassment that this great lady's appearance would have so few people in attendance! I did what I could to make it celebritous, stood and applauded, and Madame very shyly bowed to us.

The film itself is best described as imperfect jewels - romantic, beautiful scenes and decors, and a capable cast. For some reason it doesn't completely come together as it should. I would still like a DVD version, for no other reason than posterity.

I saw this film in the Carnegie Hall movie theater. I heard it was from Merchant-Ivory and I love Jeanne Moreau, so this pick was a no-brainer, or so I thought. I knew I was in trouble when James Ivory was the producer and not the director. Ismael Merchant didn't know what he was doing. About a third of the shots had the boom mike hanging into the frame. Ridiculous.

The mature and beautiful Jeanne Moreau makes this film worth more than a footnote or a curiosity in her filmography. The interplay between Moreau and Nell Carter is funny and moving. While there are transitions that are not as smooth or well written as they could be, this movie resonates with those of us who have reached "a certain age."

Though not all of us have the opportunity to revisit our pasts, we each manufacture the imagery that we carry with us for our lifetimes. Those of us who are lucky enough to get a chance to revisit our youth are often rudely awakened to the reality that the imagery we have carried with us is not necessarily reality.

This touching story involves a successful novelist, Moreau, who late in life decides to return to her Parisian roots. It is about her departure from New York, where she has been living since the war (WWII) and her return to Paris after 50 years. It is in the remembrance of her mother and the realizations of what actually happened to her as a child during the war that are the heart of this movie.

While there are unnecessary sub-plots, even these diversions give the director, Ismael Merchant, an opportunity to cinematically present Paris at its most lovely.

I consider this a very good movie with yet another brilliant and controlled performance by the incomparable Moreau. There are some very interesting character roles including Jean Pierre Aumont. The cinematography is lovely!

Virtually unwatchable. Normally Merchant produces and Ivory directs. When they switch rôles, bad things happen.