Le genou de Claire (Claire's Knee),

Directed by Eric Rohmer, like many of the greatest film comedies, keeps the stakes high enough that all the lovely romantic comic parts of the film do not pass for mere fluff.  It all pulls together to mean something.  This was, after all, the fifth in Rohmer's "Six Moral Tales."  But do not let that word "moral" scare you.  Rohmer was anything but preachy or proselytizing.  Ultimately, his films seek to find the truth about what love really is, or if it exists.  And if it is different from friendship, and the ways it might be different.  His films explore romantic relationships between people in all facets:  fidelity, loyalty, trust, jealousy, loving, being "in love", the secret magical power of gestures or gifts (and the grace and manners required for accepting said gestures and gifts), giving, sharing, and so much more.  And, in the case of Le genou de Claire (like many of Rohmer's films), Rohmer has chosen a beautiful mountainous region of France, complete with crystal-blue lake, for his backdrop.  Rohmer's "outdoors" films, in fact, remind me of those great "backpacking, holiday" plays of Shakespeare, like, say, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, or A Midsummer's Night Dream.  It is only amongst the fresh air and stark natural beauty that most of these characters can truly speak their mind; reveal their most hidden desires frankly, with grace and great taste.  Béatrice Romand's character, Laura, is the exception. She feels smothered by natural beauty. She will most certainly end up in the City later in her life. (Rohmer cast Ms Romand in a similar predicament nearly thirty years later in another film of his. This time Ms Romand had to return to the countryside, much to her chagrin, to take over a property she inherited.  Here she very reluctantly and distractedly makes wine from a vineyard on her property.)

Like Belle and Sebastian's "String Bean Jean".

Despite the film being entitled, Le genou de Claire, for me, the real star of this picture is Ms Romand.  I have loved Ms Romand for ages now.  And since she has appeared in so many of Rohmer's films, starting with Le genou in 1971, I have had the good fortune to witness her transformation from gawky string-bean teen to graceful and regal grande dame.  Ms Romand, despite some wonderful performances (notably Aurora Cornu, Laurence de Monaghan, and Gérard Falconetti as Claire's oafish meathead boyfriend, Gilles) steals the picture.  On camera Ms Romand is insouciant, coy, adorable, playful, delightful, but also, very importantly, much wiser beyond her years.  She plays with the truth in a teasing manner, drawing the real desires and truths out of the other characters, and us, the audience, in such a sly way that none of us know what we have revealed before it is too late.

The whole film is splendid.  (And perfect viewing for an overcast day such as this one in the Bay Area.)  It was shot exquisitely by one of the best, Néstor Almendros, and is beautiful to behold. And like Ms Romand's, Laura, the film is mischievously sneaky.  That something so effervescent and seemingly slight could age so gracefully and stay with you for so long is a profound, fabulous thing.

Ms Romand all growns.

xxxoooxxx
Ardent