A Summer's Tale DVD, 1996

Rohmer’s Summer’s Tale is the story of gauche student Gaspard and his search for self-knowledge through his shifting affiliations to three women. Holidaying alone in someone else’s room, Gaspard finds that distance from oneself can lead to discovery, and his affections become increasingly divided between Lena (his appallingly egotistical on-off girlfriend), Solène (demanding, sexy, vaguely crass) and his almost-platonic confidante Margot (frank, capable, mocking). The subject matter might seem mere summery froth, but Rohmer’s treatment makes it so much more. As with all his films, Rohmer is here exploring his particular brand of humane realism through the messiness of interpersonal exchanges and desires. The dialogue is careful, intelligent and flawlessly constructed, the characterisation is impeccable and the Breton land and sea-scape which is so integral to the film brings to the whole an air of variability and promise. Rohmer is not afraid to develop a protagonist who is annoying, transparent, even daft at times, and while so many directors would sneer at Gaspard’s predicaments, he treats his central character with tender and amused generosity. With its careful sense of place, wonderful naturalistic performances, and a slow build towards a perfectly choreographed closing sequence in which Gaspard’s indecision descends into near-absurdity, this is witty, evocative, thoroughly enjoyable Rohmer.

Kate Davies on 7th July 2005
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