Al estilo francés

Wow, despite following Seberg a bit I had never heard of this movie and found it wonderful. I'm a sucker for films about Americans in Europe between the end of the war and before the hippies. Seberg is so desirable (gosh, she looks a lot like Tippi Hedren here) -- people seemed so much more adult at a much younger age. (I recall that line from You've Got Mail where Parker Posey says, Do you believe the Rosenbergs in the picture were around our age?). Always when viewing these films about young women in the late Fifties/early Sixties, I find it poignant to think about them, and how their lives may be changed by the upheavals of the late Sixties. And, of course, that's true of Seberg. Anyway, the movie is a treat -- watch it.

"You're going to say that I ought to leave Paris...that I ought to come home like a good little girl and be a nice, demure, hypocritical piece of merchandise on the marriage market...pretending I don't know which end of a man is up!" Jean Seberg stars as a 19-year-old girl from Chicago, studying art in Paris and beginning to show real promise, who abandons her talent for an unfulfilled modeling career and a series of romantic misfires; four years later, she's contemplating her future, fed up with the empty decadence, disappointment and heartache of her life. Irwin Shaw based his screenplay on two of his short stories, and he just about nails the insecure feelings of a directionless young woman desperate to hang on to her youth and beauty while seeking loftier paths in the bargain. The film is slowly paced but never dreary, nor insubstantial; it sneaks up on you. Seberg is tentative in her role, but also thoughtful and complicated. It's a Beautiful People movie, likely aimed at upscale female audiences of the time, yet it has a lot more resonance (and cool style) than most other "woman's pictures" of the era. *** from ****

Beautiful young Jean Seberg (as Christina James) leaves Chicago for Paris, to study painting. There, she meets beautiful young student Philippe Forquet (as Guy), who sits for a portrait. After a few months of dating, Mr. Forquet proposes he and Ms. Seberg have sex. Although she loves him, Seberg is reluctant, and wants to concentrate on forwarding her career; she dreams of becoming the next "Renoir, Matisse, (or) Picasso." Seberg and Forquet try to forge a relationship, but he has a secret. Seberg encounters other men with problems, like reporter Stanley Baker (as Walter Beddoes). Or, is Seberg, herself, the problem?

Robert Parrish's "In the French Style" features excellent black-and-white location photography, by Michel Kelber. The performances are wonderful, and Seberg's carries the film, which loses direction after, to quote, "the years pass quickly," in Paris. This film is almost perfectly divided into two separate stories. The first part, with Seberg and Forquet, is the best. The story falls apart after Seberg's character becomes a modern day "Camille" - for too many minutes into the new drama, you're wondering what happened to the endearing (and extremely beautiful looking) young couple you've been following so far…

Forquet makes an additional, brief appearance. His main replacement, Mr. Baker, is given no opportunity to match the romantic build-up of Seberg and Forquet, which hurts the film considerably. After the important, mostly off-screen relationship with Baker gets going, the story switches gears to focus on the arrival of Seberg's father, Addison Powell, in Paris. Father Powell wants Seberg to give up "the life you lead" (meaning men and parties) and return to a more ordinary life in Chicago. Seberg has to make a decision about her future when Baker's (news correspondent) job takes him to the Middle East (a war zone).

Seberg, who ended her life tragically in 1979, should have played "Camille"; she, like the movie, appears so full of potential. Forquet, who really has a handle on his character's age, is exceptional; unfortunately, he began disappearing after "The Young Rebels" (1970). Surprisingly, Powell appeared on TV's "Dark Shadows" (1968); as "Dr. Lang", he temporarily cured Barnabas Collins of vampirism. Fortunately, Baker went directly into lead roles that took better advantage of his worth, like "Zulu" (1964).

******* In the French Style (9/18/63) Robert Parrish ~ Jean Seberg, Philippe Forquet, Addison Powell, Stanley Baker

She was a very gifted actress, discovered by Otto Preminger and made all kinds of roles, from Saint Joan to a gangster bride of Jean-Paul Belmondo in Jean-Luc Godard's major debut "A bout de souffle" and with Peter Sellers in one of his best comedies, her second marriage was with Roman Gary, who after her death by suicide at 40 blamed the FBI for it for having hounded her by spreading false rumours, but as an actress she was always outstanding. This is a totally different kind of film. Her character and performance here reminds you of Audrey Hepburn in her very subtle and sensitive, and vulnerable style, and the story is a romantic melodrama about love relationships in Paris, and you must regret that Stanley Baker, always excellent in his crude way, didn't get her. It is a wonderful suave and rather melancholy film like a novelletta, and the music is exquisite.

Usually not my cup of tea, films strictly from female perspective about female lives, but I enjoyed this intimate and modest portrait of a American woman living in France, trying to make a living and to have fun at the same time. While I was happy it was not at all sentimental, I did find the story shallow and conventional, a bit like chick-lit in modern literature (a woman enjoying success and going out with non-existing charismatic and well behaved men).

But the actors were convincing. Seberg of course is perfect for this part, like when she says smiling: 'Trying to impress him with how all-round marvelous I am.' She acts with a powerful glance. Also, she is the queen of beautiful smiles.

I guess Stanley Baker was solid as always, but his part was underdeveloped. Philippe Forquet steals the show, as a kind of creepy boyfriend. But his drama doesn't get exploited as nothing really gets really nasty in this film. Forquet was, because of his looks, a logical counterpart of Seberg. Fun facts: he became specialized in playing French aristocrats in Hollywood films, and was once Sharon Tate's boyfriend.

The relaxed tone of the film is probably its best quality. It is observing rather than trying to share a controversial opinion, like for example a film of Costa-Gavras would. It reminded me a bit of Ma nuit chez Maude, but more old-fashioned. There are also some neat shots of Paris, and a lot of shots from beautiful Jean Seberg. With a lot, I mean A LOT. The superfluous close-ups are hardy countable. But how could I argue with director Robert Parrish? She is downright gorgeous. When you are this pretty, and can act as well, well, why not? I rate it 7/10.