Louise lives in a nice house in the suburbs with her lover, Remi, a city planner and noted tennis player. Their relationship has hit a major juncture though, with Remi wanting to get married. Louise is reluctant, not wanting to settle down and stop living the life of a party girl. Eric Rohmer's Full Moon in Paris is a searing portrait of the character dynamics which exist between men and woman. While this type of story and themes has been tackled by countless filmmakers, I'm not sure anyone has such firm grasp on human relationships as Rohmer. Full Moon is Paris is a film full of intellectual banter but what is most impressive for me is how genuine it is at capturing the almost primal emotions of jealousy, loss, lust, etc. The film beautifully captures the over-analyzing which takes place in so many relationships, the constant fears and subsequent paranoia that can consume one's mind when trust has been eliminated. Louise is a character who wants the best of both worlds - she believes she loves Remi and is comfortable with him, but at the same time she is desperate to be alone. This is Louise story from start to finish, and while some of her actions aren't particularly likeable from a moral point of view, Rohmer never demonizes her for being young and naive about what love truly is. The ending is rather devastating for Louise character, with her own suggestion turning against her but with this ending Full Moon in Paris does something impressive, it transcends the narrative, compelling the viewer to examine their own feelings about love, lust, jealousy, and the relationships in their own lives. 8/10
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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