MUBI

Familiar Ophuls period-piece roundelay, featuring three stories (all adapted from Guy de Maupassant). In the first, an elderly man hides behind a mask and dances furiously at balls until he passes out — it turns out he does this repeatedly so as to re-experience the glory days of his youth. In the second story, a whorehouse in a small French town closes its doors for a day so they can all have an excursion into the country to attend the communion of the niece of the madam. While they frolic, the men of the town almost riot in frustration! One of the whores is played by Danielle Darrieux, who captures the heart of the niece’s father, played by Jean Gabin). Both stories are pleasant enough but fairly slight — both feature those who search for pleasure but still cannot find happiness. The third story stars Simone Simon as a model and a painter who fall in love at first sight. They quickly move in together, proclaiming their love for each other forever and ever. As with all Ophuls, happiness doesn’t last and the relationship goes sour. He leaves her, she is devastated and attempts suicide. This episode is much more complex and bittersweet — unlike the first two stories, by the end they do achieve a sort of happiness, but it is ambiguous. If you love Ophuls (as I do) you will be satisfied with the trademark swirling camerawork, lush set design, themes of love, loss and heartbreak. But the film lacks both the sublime beauty of The Earrings of Madame De… and the power of Letter From An Unknown Woman.