Reminiscent of Rohmer in its mature and understated handling of love and emotional complexity. After Julien and his sister lose their mother, they feel unable to open up to anyone. Julien then falls for a sales assistant and her alluring chignon.
Here's a film that should appeal to Rohmer fans. It's about a young guy who falls for and keeps thinking about a pretty bookshop assistant, though he has a comfortable... more >
Here's a film that should appeal to Rohmer fans. It's about a young guy who falls for and keeps thinking about a pretty bookshop assistant, though he has a comfortable close friendship with a female tap-dancer who has relationship troubles of her own. We learn he's given up playing the piano, while his sister's inclined to be moody and tearful, and his affable dad, a writer whose latest book has had the editor's thumbs down as less charming than usual, enjoys watching Chaplin's The Circus and has a married admirer...
So much for the plot basics. It's so full of (light) Rohmeresque and touches it's virtually a homage. There's the title - Olga's knot of hair - which recalls Claire's Knee, as does an early step-ladder scene; the svelte youthful protagonists; the natural performances; deftly handled details, incidents, infidelities and misunderstandings; unobtrusive colour schemes; meaningful glances and delicate warm sensuality. Even the central character's hair - which is given a short scene of its own- may be a reference to Rohmer's A Summer's Tale...
And yet, rather than feeling artificial or derivative, it still convinces as a sensitive, sincere, pleasing and promising debut from director Bonnell.
Next stop/ see also:
Claire's Knee (Rohmer), The Green Ray (Rohmer), Chacun Cherche son Chat (Klapisch), The Dream Life of Angels (Zonca). < less
