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I saw "An Autumn Tale", by Eric Rohmer, this Saturday. It is a delicate exploration of love, revolving around the attempt to "fix up" a woman, a shy, widowed vintner whose children are leaving the nest. One friend, the girlfriend of the vintner's son, comes up with a scheme to pair the vintner with her ex- lover, a philosophy teacher, with whom she is trying to maintain a friendship. She figures that if she can pair the two of them, it will cancel any lingering temptations towards the ex- lover, and permit her to continue a friendship with two people of whom she is very fond. Another friend, a best friend from childhood, places an ad, and pretends to be the vintner in order to evaluate the potential beau. Of course, there is some consternation when the ruse comes to light, in more than one stage. The focus on those reluctant to make fools of themselves, but hopeful about mid- life romance, is delicious. This is certainly one of Rohmer's best movies, and may be his most profound... |
