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Movie Notes: The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg

June 17th, 2008

The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg

starstarstarstarstar = 5 stars

Starring Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon
Directed by Jacques Demy

Synopsis

A musical set in Cherbourg, France, where lovers Genevive (Catherine Deneuve) and Guy (Nino Castelnuovo) are separated due the Algerian War. Genevive’s mother, Madame Emery sells colorful umbrellas which contrast with the sadness as the lovers drift apart.

The Good

  • Catherine Deneuve’s first starring role, complete with an ingenue shine like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday.
  • Awesomely vibrant color for a 1960s film, due to the director’s prescience to save a “three strip” negative based on the original colors, that was available for full restoration in 1996. Clothing, storefront signs, umbrellas, even wallpaper is gorgeously bright and sigh-inducing.
  • Excellent, mesmerizing musical work by Michel Legrand. There are few divisions between the characters’ dialogue and musical “numbers” – conversations are sung like operatic recitative, so the music is continuous throughout. Themes are woven in – there’s a particularly sad yet memorable phrase right when Guy boards a train, that recurs like a Wagnerian leitmotif whenever the lovers recall their separation.

The Bad

  • A bit slow, but in that Dr. Zhivago kind of way where there’s a pay off (although distinctly French) if you see it through to the end.
  • None of the actors do their own singing (it’s lip synced), although I was soon caught up in the story to where this didn’t matter.

Conclusion

Occasionally I happen upon a movie that hits a sweet spot of mood and esoteric interests I have at the time – in this case, it’s 1960s France and a unique take on the movie musical (sort of like Once). What I found most interesting is how the setting is rather fantastical and surreal with characters singing the whole time, but the subject matter is truly mundane (working in a garage and an umbrella store) and the ending surprisingly grounded in a snowy reality. I found this contrast between the reality and fantasy particularly delicious.

I have no idea how I missed this movie all these years and am kicking myself for not seeing it sooner. Beautiful, romantic, and inventive. Plus, I can’t get that song out of my head!

IMDB: The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg
Wikipedia: The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg
Rotten Tomatoes: The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg 100%

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  • Heh, some years back I went to see this at an indie theater, about 20 minutes before it started someone rushed in hooded, escaping paparazzi with a body guard. When they let us in, we realized it was Madonna who apparently has to watch movies ending first and then the movie leaving at the point when she started watching! That sucks, but I completely agree with you that the movie most certainly does not! Beautifully shot.
  • Heh that's an interesting story - but this particular movie's ending is
    neat-o enough I can't imagine spoiling it in that way. But I suppose when
    you're madonna your every personality quirk can be indulged.
  • One of my all-time faves. I have a well-worn VHS tape of it which I watched hundreds of times over the 3 years I toured with a circus. The music still brings back the smell of sawdust. I was lucky enough to see it at the Castro in San Francisco when it was re-released a few years back.

    If you like Umberllas, you should check out "The Young Girls of Rochefort" (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort). Same composer + same director + same young and beautiful Deneuve + her sister Françoise Dorléac + Gene Kelly = Ooh La La!
  • Wow, I'm sure the camera pullback as the train leaves the station with poor
    Genevieve off in the distance on the big screen was a trip!

    I'll definitely add "The Young Girls of Rochefort" to my queue. I just
    watched Singing In The Rain for the 4,234th time so another Gene Kelly
    musical would be good timing. I did add another Demy movie called "Lola"
    (starring Anouk Amiee).
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