Review of Love in the Afternoon

Introduction

A man speculates on the nature of love and fidelity. Frederic meets an old friend who was never a lover. She is unpredictable and shows up in the long dark afternoons of his soul. He has divorced himself from home life during his working day. His anxiety about life is represented by his inability to take lunch at a normal time, generally leaving the office when his colleagues arrive back. As the friendship with Cloe becomes more intense he wonders how he will resolve the moral dilemma.

Video

Produced in 1972 the film has worn well with occasional print damage Mostly taking place in the office, bar and Frederic`s home this is not a film for visuals unless you count the occasional bare bottoms -three and all female well it is French- come on.

Audio

Mainly dialogue which is pretty useless to me I always listen never the less whilst reading the subtitles. On the matter of subtitles they are always geared to the American market and include words like `fix dinner` aargh!

No problems with sound and the music over the titles is pleasing

Features

The theatrical trailer is included with no subtitles. I would have liked trailers for the other 5 in the series but maybe they aren`t being released.
Also included is a very odd film called `Veronica and her Dunce`. A boy and his afternoon tutor try to outwit each other as he tries to avoid doing his homework. I am now very confused about inverted fractions.

Conclusion

When do you stop dreaming about other women and grow up? Well its about 90 minutes in this intensely introspective film. Frederic`s voice over pretty much covers his anxiety about what he might be missing in life. Cleo is the catalyst to a lot of decision making and some bleating and beating of the chest, of course.

If you like deep French movies where everyone smokes a lot this is for you.
You`ve got to be in the right mood other wise you might start shouting `get over it` at the screen.