Tuesday, January 29, 2019
588 - Lola, France, 1961. Dir. Jacques Demy.
Pleure Qui Peut Rit Qui Veut. - Proverbe Chinois.
Cry who can; laugh who will. - Chinese Proverb.
Lola. To Max Ophuls.
Images Raoul Coutard
Music Michel LeGrand
Anouk Aimee made this film between her work in two classic Federico Fellini films--8-1/2 (1963) and La Dolce Vita (1960).
Michel in a gorgeous car, right out of a dream.
Cecile fell in love on her 14th birthday. It was love at first sight. Coup de foudre. We are getting used to the term. You can hear her say it.
She is talking to Roland Cassard, her dear friend from childhood. They have not seen each other in 15 years. They ran into each other by accident earlier today. Now they are having dinner. He is taking her out.
She has a little boy, most likely from that memory she is sharing, only not from when she was 14 but older.
She also has an American sailor who is after her. Frankie. But he has to get back on a ship tomorrow and set sail. He is kind to her, and kind to her son. And he seems to be honest with her and about their situation.
But Frankie does not know her name is Cecile. He knows her as Lola. That is her stage name. Cecile is a mother. Lola is a dancer.
A mother and daughter, Madame Desnoyers and Cecile--another Cecile--are now interested in Roland Cassard. Because he was nice to them. They wanted a French-English dictionary for Cecile's schooling. But the bookstore was out and would have to order it. Roland overheard them at the bookstore. So he offered to give this Cecil his French-English dictionary. He came to their house to deliver it. And this endeared him in their hearts.
So Frankie cares for Lola. And Roland Cassard cares for adult Cecile. And they are the same person--Lola and Cecile.
But she cares for someone else. The love of her life. She tells Roland, "I never stopped thinking about him."
His name is Michel. The father of her son. He has been gone for seven years. But she does not give up home that he will come for her, for them, one day
Cecile / Lola could end up with no one.
Or she could end up with Frankie.
Or she could end up with Roland.
Or she could run into Michel in a gorgeous car, right out of a dream.
* * * *
My father used to say, "Punctuality is the mark of kings."
You have a major fault. You're off in the clouds.
There's no dignity nor real life for a man who works 12 hours a day without knowing what he's working for.
It's true. I don't know what I'm working for.
Come back when you've figured it out.
Cinema Katorza
Return to Paradise, Gary Cooper
Whiskey and cigarettes. That's crazy!
Roland Cassard.
Matareva, a Pacific island near Tahiti.
It's always beautiful in the movies.
For me it's the only cure.
I may not be a great dancer but I'm a good mother.
Don't bother about me. I'm just a silly girl boring you with her sob stories. . . . But I was so happy to see you.
Maybe he'll come back. I'm sure he will. One's first love is so intense.
It's ruined. The sky ran into the sea. Looks like a melted candle.
People look great this morning.
Love agrees with you.
I love you. I have for ages. I told you I liked you years ago. Then I saw you again, and I don't know what happened. I walked around all night. I thought about our childhood and all sorts of memories came flooding back, with you at the center of them all. I've lived on dreams until now.
You give me a reason to live.
Call it love at first sight.
Michel. He's the one I love.
I don't deserve this! I thought you were a friend, but you're like all the other men.
I've never had a male friend. Just guys chasing after me.
But I'm nobody special.
No need to explain. I'll get over you quickly, believe me.
I really liked you.
Farewell, Frankie.
Here's the key. I left a few things in the room. Do as you like with them.
And your great love?
All over.
Then it wasn't very serious.
It was, but it doesn't matter now.
You get over things quickly.
One does one's best.
It took me 25 years.
I know. One's first love is so intense.
I didn't want to hurt you. I thought you'd forgive me if there was someone else.
I see you're right. It's great to be alive.
You think I should throw myself in your arms and thank you.
That'd be a miracle!
It may happen.
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