Film Review by Michael Parent |
| La Peau Douce (François Truffaut, 1964) 6.5
François Truffaut doesn’t need an introduction. Being one of the most loved French film makers with Jean Renoir and one of the most important contributors to Les Cahiers du Cinema, and finally one of the two important figures of the French New Wave with Jean-Luc Godard. Even if the temptation to make comparisons between the two men is irresistible I won’t do it. Because their approach are very distant in the Wave. Godard has an in your face attitude with coup d’éclats and many deep political levels in his Art. While Truffaut has an approach more “soignée” and his writing is closer to literature and poetry. Well, I made comparisons anyway. La Peau Douce is Truffaut’s weakest effort even if it has its moments I think the story just glue on itself. However, we don’t care of Pierre and his mistress and even with the “coup fatal” we don’t feel sorry for the guy. I think the forst act is well done, but it seems like the whole story was based on that moment so the rest just gets weaker and weaker. Even if I list Truffaut among my Top 10 directors of all time I must say that with that one he got me off. Jules et Jim, Les 400 coups, Tirez sur le Pianiste are his untouchable films and Baisers Volés, Domicile Conjugal, Le Dernier Métro and Vivement Dimanche! are memorable too but La Peau Douce is forgetable. |