Bakery Girl Of Monceau

Rating: out of
Released: 1963
Directed by: Eric Rohmer
Cast: Barbet Schroeder

PART OF THE CRITERION ERIC ROHMER MORAL TALES BOX SET

I watched the first DVD in the Rohmer box set. It lived up to my hype.

The first DVD has the shortest of his moral tales, THE BAKERY GIRL OF MONCEAU. Running a little over 20 minutes, this story focuses on a man (played by producer Barbet Schroeder, whose voice was dubbed by someone else) who sees the same beautiful woman on his walk home every day. One day, he talks to her, asking her out. She is busy but says the next time they run into each other, she'd like to.

Then, he stops seeing her.

He spends several days wandering around the neighborhood, hoping to run into her, but he doesn't.

While on his quest, he frequents a bakery. There, he can tell the girl behind the counter is attracted to him, even though he isn't really attracted to her. So, while he is looking for the other girl, he plays games with her, to make himself feel better.

There is a lot to this story. At 20 minutes, it has more thought to it than most Hollywood features. I've seen it several times over the years, and get more out of it each time.

Also on the DVD is a ten minute short film, PRESENTATION OR CHARLOTTE AND HER STEAK from 1961. A very simple, two scene short. In one, a guy introduces his girlfriend, Charlotte, to another attractive girl he knows, Carla, hoping to make her jealous. He and Charlotte then have a talk about the introduction, while she cooks a steak.

I think I may have seen this before, but I'm not sure. It is very slight, not a lot to it.

But, in reading the credits, I was pretty much blown away. Made me rethink the whole thing, and watch part of it again.

Rohmer directed it, but the cast, who I have to say I didn't recognize (although I should have) is just as important.

Charlotte is played by a young Stephane Audran (BABETTE'S FEAST and many other films, she was married to Chabrol for a while). Carla is none other than French New Wave goddess Anna Karina!!!

And the lead actor? He's this guy by the name of Jean Luc Godard. Can't believe I didn't pick up on it, but I had never seen him this young.

Finally on the DVD, in the longest feature, is an 83 minute interview of Rohmer talking to his long time producer Barbet Schroeder, filmed this year for the DVD set.

This is a pretty big event, as Rohmer doesn't do a lot of interviews. I mean, Rohmer isn't even his real name, it is a pen name.

They talk about the moral tales, issues in filmmaking, the difference between DVD and film (Rohmer admits he has stopped going to theatres, since DVD is a better experience, with his poor eyesight and better viewing conditions). A fascinating interview. I wish in some places they went into more detail, especially when Rohmer talks about his relationship with Truffaut (Truffaut had him fired from editing CAHIERS DU CINEMA and they had a falling out for a while).

Five more discs to go!

Reviewed by: Jim Magovern

Jan 01,2007