A nice movie about a person not socially mature. Sometimes the continuous introspection was too much, but I hung in there and was pleasantly rewarded. Life can be very complicated between one's own ears. Enjoy!
I probably identify with the protagonist a little too much. I was very much like her, before I met my wife. For lonely, socially awkward people, vacations and holidays can be the worst part. You so want to have something special happening to you, but as the days pass, you become more and more mired in your solitude, more desperate to find someone, and more offputting and weird, in a vicious circle. The movie captures that sense of helpless frustration pretty well. And that is exactly why it can be hard to watch sometimes.
@siskoid that's what depression and a lack of self-confidence do to people. What would you expect, someone who comes across as extremely extrovert and entertaining? Ironically enough, you're underlining the relevance of this film with your review.
I'm really on the fence about Éric Rohmer's Le rayon vert (The Green Ray AKA Summer). On the one hand, I appreciate the portrait of a woman struggling with anxiety and feeling isolated and incapable of having a good holiday. Marie Rivière is best as Delphine when she is overcome with fear and sadness, but when she talks, it's mostly to awkwardly justify herself so as not to come off as depressive. And I know a lot of people will relate. I don't NOT relate. But truth be told, I kind of hate Delphine. She is SUCH a drag. And like the people around her, I'm annoyed that she never wants to do anything, that her isolation is something she creates herself, and when she feels like she has nothing interesting to say, I AGREE WITH HER. I probably wouldn't be so critical if it weren't clear that Rivière is mostly improvising. As far as improvisations go, there's a lot of repetition, grasping for what to say next, and so on. I can't decide if it works for the character or if it's just boring. And then, there's the beautiful ending, which references the lesser-known Jules Verne story that shares its title with the film. And is all forgiven? Maybe. If this is the type of romcom where one of the lovers thinks they're a loser until they find love, it almost only lives in the first act. Its relentless sadness is truthful, but overwhelming. Can I like the film and have no use for its protagonist? Like the last ray of the sun hovering on the horizon, I'm teetering.
That's The Green Ray, not bloody nondescript Summer.
The current bluray version is widescreen, but fullscreen is intended.
Wow, one of the characters is a vegetarian, you don't happen upon those everyday. Chapeau.
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A nice movie about a person not socially mature. Sometimes the continuous introspection was too much, but I hung in there and was pleasantly rewarded. Life can be very complicated between one's own ears. Enjoy!module64
I am this movieRene Narciso
I probably identify with the protagonist a little too much. I was very much like her, before I met my wife. For lonely, socially awkward people, vacations and holidays can be the worst part. You so want to have something special happening to you, but as the days pass, you become more and more mired in your solitude, more desperate to find someone, and more offputting and weird, in a vicious circle. The movie captures that sense of helpless frustration pretty well. And that is exactly why it can be hard to watch sometimes.Gershwin
@siskoid that's what depression and a lack of self-confidence do to people. What would you expect, someone who comes across as extremely extrovert and entertaining? Ironically enough, you're underlining the relevance of this film with your review.Siskoid
I'm really on the fence about Éric Rohmer's Le rayon vert (The Green Ray AKA Summer). On the one hand, I appreciate the portrait of a woman struggling with anxiety and feeling isolated and incapable of having a good holiday. Marie Rivière is best as Delphine when she is overcome with fear and sadness, but when she talks, it's mostly to awkwardly justify herself so as not to come off as depressive. And I know a lot of people will relate. I don't NOT relate. But truth be told, I kind of hate Delphine. She is SUCH a drag. And like the people around her, I'm annoyed that she never wants to do anything, that her isolation is something she creates herself, and when she feels like she has nothing interesting to say, I AGREE WITH HER. I probably wouldn't be so critical if it weren't clear that Rivière is mostly improvising. As far as improvisations go, there's a lot of repetition, grasping for what to say next, and so on. I can't decide if it works for the character or if it's just boring. And then, there's the beautiful ending, which references the lesser-known Jules Verne story that shares its title with the film. And is all forgiven? Maybe. If this is the type of romcom where one of the lovers thinks they're a loser until they find love, it almost only lives in the first act. Its relentless sadness is truthful, but overwhelming. Can I like the film and have no use for its protagonist? Like the last ray of the sun hovering on the horizon, I'm teetering.Armoreska
That's The Green Ray, not bloody nondescript Summer.The current bluray version is widescreen, but fullscreen is intended.
Wow, one of the characters is a vegetarian, you don't happen upon those everyday. Chapeau.
Shingwauk
Boy, she's a fun date! A little too self absorbed.