Full Moon in Paris (1984)

  'Full Moon in Paris' (Les nuits de la pleine lune) is a 1984 French film directed by Eric Rohmer.

  Louise is living in Paris, in love with her boyfriend Remi. She wants to stay single and avoid married life, and becomes friends with writer Octave. She has two apartments, one in urban Paris and one in the Suburbs. Eventually she becomes even more friendly with a young musician at a party, and so her third lover begins.

  I had to skip 'Pauline at the Beach' as the disc was too scratched to play, so 'Full Moon in Paris' was the next film in the box-set (my fifth Rohmer overall). This was easier to watch than 'A Good Marriage' and 'The Aviator's Wife' but it is equally as dull and infuriating. Let me explain...

  The main problem with Rohmer films is that the main protagonist is so detestable. In 'A Good Marriage' the young woman is addicted to a man who isn't the faintest bit interested in her. In this film, Louise falls in love with (not 1, not 2... but) 3 men. When the ending happens and we are meant to feel sad, I felt happy, because the one thing you should never do is date three people at the same time. She cries like it's a surprise! The film just follows what she does, and how she is taking advantage of the unmarried life, but honestly she is an idiot. There is nothing wrong with female leads in films, but there is everything wrong with Louise.

  The second problem is the naff levels. I don't like using the word naff, but there is no other word for it. I know nothing about fashion, but the clothes and the hairstyles are dire. Every character reeks of the 1980s. We all have seen photographs of our parents dancing in the 1980s looking ridiculous. This film is full of people dressed like that, and it is a major concern throughout Rohmer's filmography.

  The third problem is that it is not cinematic, whatsoever. Who would honestly go to the cinema to see people talking about love? It doesn't even look cinematic, with the same, realistic and boring cinematography Rohmer uses in 'A Good Marriage'. A film called 'Full Moon in Paris' should be beautiful and gorgeous, but it couldn't be further from the opposite.

  I respect Rohmer, as he is sticking to his auteur styles, but the problem is they are dull, naff and dated. The acting is good, especially from Pascale Ogier (La Pont du Nord). She may be portraying a character I dislike (Louise), but she does it well.

TO CONCLUDE
Nothing interesting here. Definitely one of his lesser works.

SCORE
44