419 - The Bride Wore Black, France, 1968. Dir. Francois Truffaut.

Friday, February 23, 2018

419 - The Bride Wore Black, France, 1968.  Dir. Francois Truffaut.

Who is that mysterious woman in the white gown?

She attempts to get into Bliss's apartment, but the bellman will not let her.

So she shows up at Bliss's party the night before his wedding.

Bliss's friend Corey is captivated by her.  So is Bliss.  They compete for her attention.  Bliss wins.

Bliss loses.

Another man, Coral, receives a ticket in the mail.  What a surprise!  He attends the concert.  In his own private box.  She appears.  They sit in silence and listen to the music.  Afterwards, he asks.

Did you send me the ticket?  How do you know me?

He asks her on another date.  At his place.  She brings the liqueur.  And a 45-rpm record for them to listen to.

A little boy named Cookie is playing in his yard.  He meets her.

His father does as well.  Miss Becker is here to help.  While your wife and mother is visiting her mother.

Let us play Hide-and-Seek.

Cookie hides.  Miss Becker finds him.  Miss Becker hides.  Cookie finds her.  Miss Becker puts Cookie to bed.  Miss Becker cannot find her ring.  A man's signet ring.

M. Morane looks for it.  M. Morane hides.  The police find him.

A man named Delvaux goes to jail.

Fergus the great painter receives a surprise model at his apartment.  Diana the Huntress.  He paints her.  He paints her on the canvas on the easel.  He paints her on the wall above his bed.

She hunts.  She captures.

How to get to Delvaux?  The mysterious woman knows how.

She knows.

Julie Kohler is on a mission.

And we learn what she is after.

"For you it's in the past,
But I live through it every night."



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Jeanne Moreau plays Julie.  We have seen her quite a bit.

In Elevator to the Gallows (1958), The 400 Blows (1959), La Notte (1961), A Woman is a Woman (1961), Chimes at Midnight (1965), and The Immortal Story (1968).

Michael Lonsdale plays Rene Morane.  We have celebrated him before in Stolen Kisses (1968).

Stolen Kisses
http://realbillbillions.blogspot.com/2017/05/124-stolen-kisses-1968-france-dir.html

"Every young girl dreams of meeting her Prince Charming, of getting engaged and married.  I never had to dream because David was always there.  I never looked at another boy, and no other girl existed for him.  I waited for David.  I waited to become his wife."

"You're wrong because revenge is wrong.  Revenge is hopeless.  it would be endless.  It would be necessary to avenge too many wrongs, too many crimes, too much ignorance.  The evil thoughts of people.  You must renounce this sinister mission you've taken on yourself."

"I don't see remorse in your eyes.  Don't you fear for your soul?"