La leçon particulière

A movie which is forgotten in its native France but seems to enjoy a small cult abroad,notably in Japan.

Let's be straight about it:"psychological drama" is too good an expression to depict this Harlequin romance :it's actually the umpteenth story of the young lad who thinks he will live a Grand Amour with a seasoned woman,and who,after sufferings (so to speak) ,has learned to be a man and to become responsible ;some did it well before it,and did it much better ("LE Diable Au Cœur" " Le Blé En Herbe"(Autant-Lara).As would do Mauro Bolognini in "Un Bellissimo Novembre" in 1969.

The soft eroticism today would not even be rated PG12 (when the movie was released it got a NC-18,which urged the teenagers to see it ).

When I write "sufferings" ,well....Olivier belongs to the high bourgeoisie and is truly a spoilt rich kid: the movie made certainly most of the French sixties audience drool,and not only for Nathalie Delon 's perfect body -furtive nudity-: luxury apartment,his own TV set -which was extremely rare in 1968-,winter sports in Avoriaz ,one of the swankiest ski resorts,in a four-star hotel -a sign reads (twice):"Hotel Des Dromonts ****-.So it must have been hard ,for the average teenager of the era ,to relate to this way of life and to feel sympathy for his heartache .

This aspect of the movie is interesting,because it shows the upper classes in a way diametrically opposite to that of Claude Chabrol.One should also notice that although the movie was made in the very year of 1968,all these students are non political:Olivier's mates talk about a meeting in high school " Louis Le Grand" but the subject remains very vague ;only Delon's character seems to indicate that something has changed in the Wake of woman's lib,but the ending leaves no hope: back in Robert Hossein's (why did this talented actor get involved in that business?-arms ,she will soon become a housewife and a socialite (ain't her daddy a consul?).

The score by Francis Lai is syrupy and accentuates the mawkishness of the screenplay.

About the actors: Renaud Verley (b.1945) was Bernard Verley's brother;after several indifferent movies -including the abysmal hippie movie "Chemins De Kathmandu" -he was finally cast in a masterpiece :" "La Caduti Dei Degli" by Visconti ,but first -class actors such as Dirk Bogarde ,Ingrid Thulin and Helmut Berger drowned him out;he has never found a great part since.

Bernard Le Coq (b.1950),less cute than Verley,serves as a foil to him in Boisrond's movie;but he enjoyed a more successful career than his co-star ,mainly in TV works.

Like this ? try this......

"La Liberte En Croupe" : Boisrond jumps on the bandwagon and cowardly treats the events of May 68 ;feat. Bernard Le Coq as the lead ,this time.

I also remember this film which made a big impression on me so many years ago. I still recall several scenes, e.g. the one at the Paris railway station (Renaud getting on the train with his fellow students) or those filmed at Avoriaz ski center under snow cover, with modern hotel apartment blocks lit at night like Christmas tree, a love play between Natalie and Renaud wearing his bear costume, a fireplace, a dispute between Natalie and Hossein and, generally, a very romantic and sexy atmosphere. I would like to see it once again although I know I would be watching it now with different eyes. In my country, the title of this film was appropriately translated as 'The first experience'. In sum, after such a long period I keep this beautiful film in my memory; it surely represented one of the nice moments of my growing up.

I have bought six copies ( I liked this film so much) and the quality is excellent. Correction to the two previous reviews....Natalie Delon's character is the racing driver's 25 year old girl friend not his wife! Secondly Renaud Verley has had a good career look him up and see how he looks today. he deserved to succeed.he film has been slightly censored for japan, and Robert Hossein seems to have had his teeth done! What a great actor he became, after this and Angelique! Nathalie Delon has never looked better and her acting is just what the role demanded. her autobiography , very honest came out a couple of years ago, and prove her to be very independent. (Is that a mark of a good french actress? viz Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve. Incidentally Verley was born 9th November 1945 and Nathalie Delon,1st August 1941 she is playing 25 and he 18- 7 years difference, not four, so he was a young looking 23 year old! This film needs to be discovered by a new generation, who might appreciate how morals have changed, and the pang of a great love affair. the ending surprises, i think.

Strange what happens with some movie experiences one has as a very young person. "La Leçon Particulière" is one of those films that I've been trying not to see again because I have a tingling memory about it and I know it could reproduce today that tingling sensation that provoked in me then. Well, I was right. I saw it, and although the film is as light as a feather I could remember what was it that made me love it. It wasn't the gorgeous "older woman" played by Natalie Delon (Mrs Alain Delon then), but Renaud Verley. I though he lighted up the screen and he did. I predicted then an enormous career for him but other that a smallish part in Luchino Visconti's "The Damned" I've never seen him in anything else. His beauty, sexiness and charisma will be forever stored in this little film. That in itself is something to talk about and to recommend it for.