My Night at Maud's
- Jean -Louis Trintignant Jean- Louis
- Françoise Fabian: Maud
- Marie -Christine Barrault: Françoise
- Antoine Vitez: Vidal
The film My Night at Maud 's of 1969, the third part of the series Six Moral Tales by Eric Rohmer (after the origination date of the movies it was the fourth ).
The dialogue- rich film deals with the opposing viewpoints of a catholic engineer and a liberal woman on topics of religion and love. The religious themes are based on the writings of Blaise Pascal and are inspired by a debate that has actually taken place in 1965 between Louis Marin and the Dominican monk Dominique Dubarle.
Action
The film takes place a few days before Christmas in Clermont -Ferrand. The young engineer Jean- Louis, who has recently returned from abroad, noticed when visiting a Catholic ceremony, a beautiful young blonde woman named Françoise and decided as follows: it is to be his wife.
He meets his old friend Vidal again. The convinced communist invites him to a dinner party at his ex- girlfriend Maud. You spend the evening with long discussions on marriage, morality and religion.
After Vidal said goodbye and Jean- Louis, albeit initially reluctantly, still remains, the discussion of the issues apply to loyalty and seduction. Finally, the dark-haired, seductive Maud Jean -Louis offers to stay with her in bed, at least on a platonic basis. He assumes, however, remains fully clothed, as he slips under her blanket as opposed to Maud.
The next morning talking to Jean -Louis Françoise and the two marry. Five years later, it comes in Brittany to a random reunion with Maud. This recognizes Françoise and Jean- Louis surprised with the revelation that his wife was once her husband's mistress hated. Jean -Louis admits Françoise, however, that he came from Maud, as he spoke. Both agree silence about their past and go to the sea to bathe.
Criticism
- Lexicon of international film: " detachment and subtly designed, developed in dialogue rhythm steady picture film from the cycle of moral stories '. A stimulating and geographically at a high intellectual level discussion of morality and ethics in the relations of men. "
- Protestant observers movie ( criticism No 143/ 1970): "A witty made film, especially in its cooling distanced approach to stimulating ideas and discussions about the value of moral principles and various aspects of love. Recommended adult. "
Awards
International Film Festival of Cannes 1969
- Nominated for the Palme d'Or
Academy Award
National Society of Film Critics Award
New York Film Critics Circle Award in 1970
- Award in the category Best Screenplay for Eric Rohmer
Association Française de la Critique de Cinéma 1970
- Prix Méliès ( Best Film )
Comments
- The other films of the cycle, the short film The baker of Monceau (1962 ) and the feature films The career of Suzanne (1963 ), The Collector (1967 ), Claire's Knee (1970) and Love in the Afternoon (1972).