La tardona

I discovered this French drama back in the late seventies, on TV. I was still a kid but already loved it for its sensitivity, so fragile touch to describe human relations, and in a so realistic, accurate way. Both Philippe Noiret and Annie Girardot are absolutely stunning, terrific here, moving. I can't imagine anyone to remain cold in front of such a story. It is never lame, cheesy, dumb.... It reminds me a bit MADEMOISELLE CHAMBON , back in 2009, starring Vincent Lindon and Sandrine Kiberlain. Not the same story, not the same plot, but same character symphony and powerful way of showing it. Only an excellent film director could do it.

a love story. or only drawing of deep solitude. few portraits. meetings. and the salt air of a holiday.a film about common events, old words, not surprising choices. minimalist and honest. nothing strange, nothing unknown. almost a documentary.but it is different not only for dialogs or performance of lead actors, for mixture of characters silhouettes or for few scenes but for force of measure, for the isle of silences, for the skin of existences, fragile, strange, gauzy. collection of faces, gestures and search to escape from yourself, useful art lesson, demonstration of great importance of small things, bitter, nice, cold, it is, like each good movie, only a mirror.

This is a story about "fitting in" where you (and everyone else for that matter) are the odd man.

"La Vieille Fille" is a chronological jig-saw puzzle. You get all the pieces in their proper order but as they are all laying "face down" you never know what the next piece will be until it's turned over and inserted into its' place. That's the way the story plays out.

Each scene is more like a series of still-photographs rather than a motion picture. Dialog is sparse. Actually, "dialog" is a bad choice of expression, as most scenes consist of a monologue. It must have been a very difficult film to direct. But as daunting a task in creating this film, as it must have been - it has succeeded! The short scenes and long, silent spaces give the male thinker time to identify himself. The mood is tangible.

Philippe Noiret has been around for a long time and he's always a welcomed contributor to any film. He does very well in "La Vieille Fille". If you choose to see this film your eye will be upon him the whole length of it and once you get settled into the story you'll begin to think it is you (yourself) prodding along, scene after scene - not Noiret – right to the final, parting shot.

WARNING: "Matrix" and "Die Hard" fans - look elsewhere. You'll find no exploding automobiles and ticking bombs here and you'll end up slitting your wrists or stringing yourself up before the film is half-way through.

Likeable main characters played by amazing actors of the time, easy to follow and digest story and pleasant location are forming quality package for this amazingly low-profile French comedy from the seventies. Noire and Girardot are actually aged only one year apart and forming a beautiful leading couple, while supporting characters are also surprisingly interesting, although not very deep.

A look back into a time gone by, quaint, quiet, fun in a subtle way, unrushed and relaxing. Many enjoyable details and references to that particular age in time which may not appeal to a younger audience (who may well be offended) but nevertheless has quite an authentic air to it.

I enjoyed the many scenes around the table in the dining room where people day after day are joined in communal dining which was common back around those days, jere I think more of 60s than 70s.

The most interesting aspects are not what is being said in words but in gestures and facial expressions.

Watching this movie is like time travelling, like enjoying the bouquet from a bottle of 1972 Cornas that is but a shadow of its youth but nevertheless charming and interesting.