I borrowed La Baule-les Pins from the library at l'Alliance Francaise de la Chicago. I watched it without subtitles first then rewatched it with subtitles. I rewatched several chapters repeatedly as not to miss a thing. La Baule-les Pins in is Brittany, one of the most beautiful provences in France if it is possible to call one provence more beautiful than another. Obviously, the village is on the Atlantic Ocean. I watched the village as much as the story! I would roughly compare the film to Revolutionary Road or Far From Heaven as both films highlight the struggles of women in the 50s. This film depicts a family that goes through a divorce in 1958. At the time the few people that spoke openly about divorce. And as for telling a child what is going on? Out of the question. Things were pretty much on a don't ask, don't tell basis. No one discussed family crisis outside of the family. If it was discussed within the family it was a war, not a discussion. If there were conflict resolution mediators I had never heard about them because no one would say they were engaged in managing a family crisis! Aside from several parts of the film which are quite obvious I noted one bit of French tradition I detest. So many French people abandon their pets when it's vacation time. If you aren't French you might not understand the tragedy here. Several French animal welfare groups are trying to educate the public not to do this. Part of the film those who lived through war know well. The mother & her sister are not really sisters. They had lost parents during WWII. They were a blended family. They made very lovely sisters. In conclusion I am giving this spoiler. The doll is very symbolic in this film. Notice how it is treated in the very beginning of the film compared to the end. How does the little girl's feeling's change from beginning to end? The children were very good actors. I loved all the characters. The story is rich. The sets cannot be better; lovely houses, gardens, the beach, and there were oyster farms. You have to have an eye to catch the oyster farms! This movie has everything I love about film; drama, rich characters, beauty, history, traditions both good & bad, and France.
Review of C'est la vie
