Film review: 'Tale of Autumn'
Representing the final entry in his quartet of "Four Seasons" films, Eric Rohmer's "Tale of Autumn" is a typically droll and witty talkathon about the complications of romantic love that, while not being one of his more sublime excursions, should well please his die-hard fans. Recently showcased at the New York Film Festival, it is due for commercial release by October Films.
Unlike many of his previous films, the appropriately titled "Autumn" deals with middle-aged protagonists. The central character is Magali (Beatrice Romand), a 45-year old widowed winery owner who, without her knowledge, gets set-up with a pair of men. Her best friend Isabelle Marie Riviere) places a personal ad on her behalf and, pretending to be Magali, personally meets with the most promising respondent, a mild-mannered balding businessman named Gerald (Alain Libolt). Meanwhile, Rosine (Alexia Portal), her son's precocious and sexy girlfriend, schemes to hook her up with Etienne (Didier Sandre), her college professor and former lover. Etienne, faced with the prospect of becoming involved with a woman who may well be his ex's future mother-in-law, is understandably skittish.
It all comes to a head at an outdoor wedding in which Magali is introduced to both would-be suitors, with predictably complicated results. The mildly farcical story line, while amusing, is not as important as the well-textured characterizations and Rohmer's witty observations about friendship, love, sex and other matters of the heart. If the film deviates little from the director's typically leisurely approach, and is unlikely to win him any new converts, it offers the type of sophisticated, subtle pleasures that only he can provide.
TALE OF AUTUMN
October Films
Director-screenwriter: Eric Rohmer
Producer: Margaret Menegoz
Photography: Diane Baratier
Editor: Mary Stephen
Music: Claude Marti
Color/stereo
Cast:
Isabelle: Marie Riviere
Magali: Beatrice Romand
Gerald: Alain Libolt
Etienne: Didier Sandre
Rosine: Alexia Portal
Leonce: Stephane Darmon
Emilia: Aurelia Alcais
Running time -- 110 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Unlike many of his previous films, the appropriately titled "Autumn" deals with middle-aged protagonists. The central character is Magali (Beatrice Romand), a 45-year old widowed winery owner who, without her knowledge, gets set-up with a pair of men. Her best friend Isabelle Marie Riviere) places a personal ad on her behalf and, pretending to be Magali, personally meets with the most promising respondent, a mild-mannered balding businessman named Gerald (Alain Libolt). Meanwhile, Rosine (Alexia Portal), her son's precocious and sexy girlfriend, schemes to hook her up with Etienne (Didier Sandre), her college professor and former lover. Etienne, faced with the prospect of becoming involved with a woman who may well be his ex's future mother-in-law, is understandably skittish.
It all comes to a head at an outdoor wedding in which Magali is introduced to both would-be suitors, with predictably complicated results. The mildly farcical story line, while amusing, is not as important as the well-textured characterizations and Rohmer's witty observations about friendship, love, sex and other matters of the heart. If the film deviates little from the director's typically leisurely approach, and is unlikely to win him any new converts, it offers the type of sophisticated, subtle pleasures that only he can provide.
TALE OF AUTUMN
October Films
Director-screenwriter: Eric Rohmer
Producer: Margaret Menegoz
Photography: Diane Baratier
Editor: Mary Stephen
Music: Claude Marti
Color/stereo
Cast:
Isabelle: Marie Riviere
Magali: Beatrice Romand
Gerald: Alain Libolt
Etienne: Didier Sandre
Rosine: Alexia Portal
Leonce: Stephane Darmon
Emilia: Aurelia Alcais
Running time -- 110 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 10/16/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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