A decisive moment in the evolution of Alain Renais: Cinéaste. A whole spate of very fine projects spring Janus-like from the head of this one. It is here that Resnais turns his cinematogaph upon the theatre and artifice, producing pockets of total magic. His human figures become histrionic pawns, and in no subsequent film of his do the tragic and absurdocomic exist as such a sweet and intoxicating little doublet.
Une oeuvre théâtralisée très dense qui, par le biais d'un scénario mélodramatique transcendant, permet au metteur en scène Alain Resnais de commettre un excellent film d'ambiance et de réflexion sur la vie, l'amour et la mort...
Watching this film reminded me of an article about Scotland's oldest living woman, for whom the recipe of a long life is having "plenty of exercise, porridge and avoiding men", especially the neurotic ones like André Dussolier in this moving, sophisticated and beautiful work.
