esrosedotblog

I like to dip in every once in awhile; to get a little wet in the New Wave cinema.

Today's film is Claud Chabrol's second effort. They still have not made his first available on disc, at least not on Netflix.

This one is a toughie. A let down. In the first a city mouse visited the country mouse. In this, the reverse. Both are studies of culture clash.

A country (provincial) cousin comes to live with his city cousin. A drama ensues. There is money trouble, school trouble, friend trouble. Mostly adapting. He has a confidant who, in the end, isn't consulted about the trouble the country guy is in.

And so on.

Do not expect a happy ending in this kind of endeavor.

The upper middle class must be shown as empty if not mocked, the pursuit of excellence will be thwarted.

I will give this film a 3 out of Netflix5 but that is a bit unfair as it is, in its time, very good. A breakout for Chabrol. But I would not want to see it again and the rules say that has to invalidate a 4.

I am just explaining why I didn't like the film as much as I wanted to. The one cousin is handsome and full of good deeds. But he is a loser. The other cousin is a shit. He wins. French angst.

The whole film is captured in this lengthy trailer.

Labels: films