“A Tale of Winter”: Eric Rohmer’s ode to chance

"A Tale of Winter" synopsis

Félicie falls in love with a young man, Charles, whom she meets on vacation. However, the breakup comes quickly and the two are separated. A series of snapshot-like records became memories of love that Félicie would never forget. And 5 years later. Félicie lives between two men: Loïc, a librarian, and Maxence, a hairdresser. However, Félicie's love for Charles never wavered.

Index

• Approaching and retreating by dialogue
• Rhyming with words and colors
• Movies about women/actors
• faith and chance

Approaching and retreating by dialogue

Contrary to the title, Eric Rohmer's ``A Tale of Winter'' (1991) begins with an image of the sea, reminiscent of the end of summer. A record of the fleeting love affair between Félicie (Charlotte Véri) and Charles. Her innocent and passionate love affair with Charles, a young man she met while on vacation, unfolds on screen in quick succession like a slideshow. However, the separation of lovers comes quickly. The two are separated by classic melodrama devices: the station platform and then the train. A series of snapshot-like records become memories of love that Félicie will never forget. Félicie will always display Charles's photo in her room.

In a world where the caption "5 years later" is displayed, Félicie lives with another man. However, when Félicie ventures out into the streets of Paris, she begins to search for Charles' illusions. From here begins her wanderings, a ``A Tale of Winter'' of loss and rebirth. Félicie's sudden, animal-like gaze and unsteady line of movement on the bus and on the street express her inner movements without words.

Félicie has given birth to a child with Charles and has been living a life of going back and forth between the two men. Loïc, a librarian, and Maxence, a hairdresser. Félicie has no intention of hiding her strong feelings for Charles from the men who have feelings for her. They both try to support Félicie, who knows that she will leave him someday. Loïc's love for Félicie is genuine, especially since he is well-liked by Félicie's family. ``I don't think you'll ever find a man who loves you that much,'' Félicie's mother warns her. However, Félicie's love for Charles never wavers. Félicie even gives Loïc advice for his sake. "Look for someone who will respond to your love." For Loic, those words are extremely cruel. However, these words also come from her heart. It doesn't take Loic long to understand that either.

To others, Félicie's behavior toward the two men might seem selfish. Still, no one can fault the way they strive to show mutual understanding based on a relationship that only they themselves understand. At the same time, The Game of approaching and retreating from complicated emotions is the essence of Eric Rohmer's films.

The emotional sensuality often said about Eric Rohmer's films is often born of serendipity. In this work, there is a sensuality in the unexpected words Félicie utters to the men. Her unexpected words reveal the emotions of the person she meets. Men are strongly attracted to Felicie's unpredictability, such as how she suddenly focuses on the other person's emotions and suddenly sees everything from a bird's-eye view.