My Night at Maud's (Ma nuit chez Maud, French; 1969)Director: Eric Rohmer
No, this is a description of mind boggling nocturnal tryst at Maud's place but rather on the intellectual discourse on life, religion, Pascal (French mathematician extraordinaire) and his mathematical equation of probability, occasional flings, guilt, original sin, grace, etcetera....
As in the other 'Moral Tales' series, (#3/6), this film does not preach or take sides on moral codes but rather discusses philosophy of life without being judgemental.
A glaring difference in Rohmer's films that I have seen so far is the absence of background music score. The only sounds coming from the movie is the dialogue and the incidental things in the story, e.g. moving of furniture or street cars honking!
After staying in Canada and Chile, Jean-Louis, an engineer with Michelin, a born again Catholic, is back in Paris. It is Christmas and he is attending a mass. He laid his eyes on a blonde and he liked what he saw. Something in him told him she is going to be his wife. He tries to catch up with her in his car, whilst she is on a bicycle but loses her in busy traffic.
Disappointed, he stops at a cafe but bumps into his schoolmate whom he had not met for 14 years. His friend, Vidal, is a professor of philosophy and an unapologetic Marxist. They talk about old times and about Pascal and his mathematical equation of probability. The scientist Pascal, in his lifetime had an enlightenment of sorts, and he did dwell into Jensenian,a sect of the Catholic church. The conversation also went into philosophy.
As Jean Louis was alone for Christmas, Vidal invited him to come to his girlfriend's house. Vidal and his girlfriend, Maud, a paediatrician and a divorcee, were having a weird relationship. They get together well but she refuses to marry. Vidal is quite happy with such an arrangement. She has a daughter of about 10.
At Maud's flat, Jean Louis and Maud blend together well. Both with their fervent and steadfast belief (or disbelief) - Maud a freethinker, Jean a born again Catholic, engage in a heated but civilized rhetoric in subjects related to religion, atheism, love, morality and Pascal's life and writings on philosophy, faith and mathematics.
Maud had just gone through a rough divorce after her husband was to be cheating on her. Of course, Maud herself had a lover who also left her!
Jean Louis professes his love for the blonde girl that he met and puts forward his views on fidelity and 'the one' chosen for him. His stand is teased by a cheeky Maud to a bit carnal enjoyment but Jean stood his ground of celibacy as they continue their discussion late into the night in the comfort of a cosy bed and falling snow outside.
Vidal, Jean-Louis and Maud meet a few times after that. It looks like Maud and Jean-Louis may just fall for each other.
Then, the mysterious blonde girl, Françoise, is tracked down by chance. Jean-Louis picks up courage to talk to her. This 22 year devout Catholic is quite happy to meet his acquaintance. He send her home after she misses her bus. He ends up staying at her place after getting trapped in a blizzard.
Another discussion session starts. This apparently God fearing girl is a university student who had her own vices.
Fast forward... 5 years later.. Jean-Louis and Françoise are with a child. They are picnicking at a beach when they bump into Maud. Maud is single again after another bad marriage. We can kind of guess that the 'other woman' in Maud's life (who wrecked her earlier marriage) was none other than Françoise.
Jean sensed it too but decide to let bygones be bygones and continue enjoying time with his young family.....
FG says...Just maybe, the path most travel would the path of least resistance. Perhaps, the person who is forever is looking for the best, forever analyzing the pros, the cons, the shortcomings and rationale of choice would not move an inch from his place of departure?
As in the other 'Moral Tales' series, (#3/6), this film does not preach or take sides on moral codes but rather discusses philosophy of life without being judgemental.
A glaring difference in Rohmer's films that I have seen so far is the absence of background music score. The only sounds coming from the movie is the dialogue and the incidental things in the story, e.g. moving of furniture or street cars honking!
After staying in Canada and Chile, Jean-Louis, an engineer with Michelin, a born again Catholic, is back in Paris. It is Christmas and he is attending a mass. He laid his eyes on a blonde and he liked what he saw. Something in him told him she is going to be his wife. He tries to catch up with her in his car, whilst she is on a bicycle but loses her in busy traffic.
As Jean Louis was alone for Christmas, Vidal invited him to come to his girlfriend's house. Vidal and his girlfriend, Maud, a paediatrician and a divorcee, were having a weird relationship. They get together well but she refuses to marry. Vidal is quite happy with such an arrangement. She has a daughter of about 10.
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| Nocturnal tête-à-tête at Maud's with coffee |
Maud had just gone through a rough divorce after her husband was to be cheating on her. Of course, Maud herself had a lover who also left her!
Jean Louis professes his love for the blonde girl that he met and puts forward his views on fidelity and 'the one' chosen for him. His stand is teased by a cheeky Maud to a bit carnal enjoyment but Jean stood his ground of celibacy as they continue their discussion late into the night in the comfort of a cosy bed and falling snow outside.
Vidal, Jean-Louis and Maud meet a few times after that. It looks like Maud and Jean-Louis may just fall for each other.
Another discussion session starts. This apparently God fearing girl is a university student who had her own vices.
Jean sensed it too but decide to let bygones be bygones and continue enjoying time with his young family.....
FG says...Just maybe, the path most travel would the path of least resistance. Perhaps, the person who is forever is looking for the best, forever analyzing the pros, the cons, the shortcomings and rationale of choice would not move an inch from his place of departure?
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