Franz

This is the first of the two movies Jacques Brel made in the early seventies at a time when he had given up singing.

His movie is not for all taste ,and it was a flop when it was released ,although it was exciting to watch two legends of La Chanson Française,Brel himself and Barbara .

Brel portrays a timorous shy great lump,still Under an over possessive mom's thumb,with whom he communicates by pigeon.He goes sand-yachting ,shrimping on the beach near the boarding-house he lives in.Barbara is cast as a mysterious fallen aristocrat ,always holding an umbrella .

The best scenes are those when the two singers play together: in a bunker,the former mercenary tells the woman he's Fallen for about his military past in Katanga,ridiculously imitating the sound of a machine gun.Franz was a war pal he left dying in a ditch.The character (title) is not featured in the film.

The marvelous landscapes (it's the seaside ,but it's a "Plat Pays" )could be an ideal romantic background for a love both of them have never known.But all that surrounds them is mean,petty bureaucrats,with their wicked jokes (he is served a dead pigeon),and a sensual woman (Daniele Evenou) who sleeps with all the guests of the boarding -house.

Their story was doomed from the start .The last scene is completely unexpected and must have puzzled the viewers.For this final scene,Barbara is cast against type .

This is a worthwhile attempt ,but which should be reserved for fans of the two singers ;the others may give up before the end ,because of the loosely organized script.