My Night at Maud's (1969)

Synopsis: The third film in Eric Rohmer's Comedies and Proverbs series, MY NIGHT AT MAUD'S is the story of Jean-Louis (Jean-Louis Trintignant), an engineer for Michelin who, though a straitlaced,... The third film in Eric Rohmer's Comedies and Proverbs series, MY NIGHT AT MAUD'S is the story of Jean-Louis (Jean-Louis Trintignant), an engineer for Michelin who, though a straitlaced, conservative, self-reflective Catholic, is nonetheless swayed by the wiles of the women who surround him. His motives are constantly unclear, and his actions contradict his moral preachings at every turn. As the film begins, Jean-Louis is living in a furnished rented apartment off the beaten path in Ceyrat, outside of a small suburb of Paris called Clermont. He spies a cute blonde in church and feels inspired to pursue her but is too shy. The rest of the film unfolds as a debate about morals, Catholicism vs. atheism, fidelity, and, of course, love. With his old high school friend, philosophy professor Vidal (Antoine Vitez), he passes an evening, then spends the night with the divorced, challenging, rebellious, yet ultimately adorable Maud. Though he is tempted by her provocations, he resists. That is, he resists long enough to go for the young woman he spotted among the pews. (And the earlier church scene is echoed in hilarious fashion with Jean-Louis and the blonde staring bleary-eyed up at an overwhelming sermon from an intimidating priest.) Overall, in classic Rohmer style, MY NIGHT AT MAUD'S--which garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay--is a long, looping dialogue that never resolves itself. [More]

Starring: Francoise Fabian, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Marie-Christine Barrault

Starring: Francoise Fabian, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Marie-Christine Barrault

Director: Eric Rohmer

Director: Eric Rohmer

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