dbdumonteil Review of Paris Frills

Paris Frills (1945)

Once out in the sticks,now in the chic world of fashion.

[7 April 2002]

"Falbalas" in Becker's career,is the follow-up to "Goupi Mains-Rouges". The second one took place in a very peasant milieu,the former introduces Philippe,a Parisian top designer,as well as a heartbreaker.(Raymond Rouleau who would direct "les sorcières de Salem",from Arthur Miller with Yves Montand and Simone Signoret)The two works could not be more different,and it's hard to believe they were made by the same director.

So the Don Juan falls in love with his friend Daniel's Micheline (Micheline Presles) and seduces her.But she will discover how selfish and frivolous he is and she will leave him.He realizes that he did love her deeply and it's too late.

Here lies the connection between "Falbalas" and "Goupi mains rouges".Philippe becomes mad ,dances with a dummy dressed up as a bride.This recalls Goupi-Tonkin,one character of the precedent work,but it's not as convincing:Philippe's lunacy appears too abruptly,in a totally unexpected way,whereas Goupi-Tonkin's one grows little by little to a stunning and logical final.

Thanks to the two leads,"Falbalas " is nevertheless a commendable work. The best is the documentary side,the depiction of the fashion world.And even if the ending seems unlikely,Becker has such a fine way of filming it!