Dir. Éric Rohmer, 1996, France, 113 min, DCP, color
With Melvil Poupaud, Amanda Langlet, Gwenaëlle Simon
In French with English subtitles
Official Selection, 1996 Cannes International Film Festival
Based on events from Rohmer’s youth, A Tale of Summer follows amateur musician Gaspard (Melvil Poupaud) to a seaside resort in Dinard, on the coast of Brittany. There, three women (Amanda Langlet, Gwenaëlle Simon, Aurelia Nolin) each offer the possibility of romance, but Gaspard’s inability to commit to just one places all of his chances at love in jeopardy.
The film features Rohmer’s wistful observations on indecisiveness and the fickle nature of desire, as brought to life by a talented young cast in a picturesque setting.
A Tale of Summer has room to focus on Rohmer’s brilliance at revealing human nature through articulate, multidimensional characters, perfectly cast, who in some ways seem to exist outside of time.” – New York Times
Trailer