Bed and Board: French Movie Review (1970)

Cast: Jean-Pierre Leaud, Claude Jade, Hiroko Berghauer.

Although a 70s film, director Francois Truffaut keeps the theme and pace of the film fresh with exploring the regular rhythm of life and building upon the main and peripheral characters integral to the story. Antoine Doniel (Jean-PierreLeaud) is married to Christine (Claude Jade) who in the relationship brings more stability both emotionally and financially.  Antoine flits from one job onto another until he finally manages to keep a corporate job which he lands quite by accident. At the interview, when the loud American asks him if he drove cars, Antoine replies, 'I'm in no hury to get anywhere' much to the chagrin of the former. When Antoine approaches the mantle fatherhood a wedge is driven between the young couple. Expecting no less than to be overjoyed by this turn of events Antoine appears lost. At this time he crosses paths with a Japanese girl (Hiroko Berghauer) whose demeanour and beauty intrigue and captivate him. Upon learning of their affair by accident, Christine separates from Antoine. Their baby keeps them in regular contact and they settle into a comfortable, open friendship that was missing when they were together. An exchange between them sums it up in a scene where Antoine leans in to kiss Christine and remarks, 'You're like my little sister, my daughter, my mother' to which Christine says, 'I'd hoped to also be your wife.'

This is one among a series of films the director made about the character Antoine Doniel. Hardly dramatic, the movie courses through Antoine's life without making him the epic focus.

Rating: A 3.5 out of 5.