Technically speaking, "Le Bonheur" is a very well made film. The cinematography and Agnès Varda's direction were very nice--with some unusual but interesting camera angles and an interesting use of focus that betray that she knew what she was doing when it came to directing the picture. As for the story itself, it left me a bit cold...and much of it could have to do with the movie's New Wave sensibilities...sensibilities that may surprise you because the meaning of all this seems vague and the moral lesson even more ambiguous.
The film is about a French man, François. He would seem to have an admirable life, with a loving and beautiful wife, Thérèse, and two young children he adores. However, about a third of the way through the film, he begins an affair with Émilie--even though he openly acknowledges that he's STILL in love with his wife and finds her sexually desirable. He's a guy who, figuratively speaking, wants to have his cake and eat it too. The film seems, for a while, to validate the notion that polyandry is quite good and harmless. But the ending, like so many so-called 'New Wave' films muddles all this...leaving the viewer to wonder what this all means. I only assume that it really ISN'T about meaning but rather about a lack of meaning.
The film is extremely frank and rather matter-of-fact about sexuality and nudity. It's not really salacious but you do see quite a few breasts. But the story itself is a bit of an enigma. Well made but confusing in many ways. His motivations, his wife's VERY confusing motivations and the meaning of it all make this a very unconventional film. Worth seeing if you are a huge film buff but not among my favorite French films of the era.
The film is about a French man, François. He would seem to have an admirable life, with a loving and beautiful wife, Thérèse, and two young children he adores. However, about a third of the way through the film, he begins an affair with Émilie--even though he openly acknowledges that he's STILL in love with his wife and finds her sexually desirable. He's a guy who, figuratively speaking, wants to have his cake and eat it too. The film seems, for a while, to validate the notion that polyandry is quite good and harmless. But the ending, like so many so-called 'New Wave' films muddles all this...leaving the viewer to wonder what this all means. I only assume that it really ISN'T about meaning but rather about a lack of meaning.
The film is extremely frank and rather matter-of-fact about sexuality and nudity. It's not really salacious but you do see quite a few breasts. But the story itself is a bit of an enigma. Well made but confusing in many ways. His motivations, his wife's VERY confusing motivations and the meaning of it all make this a very unconventional film. Worth seeing if you are a huge film buff but not among my favorite French films of the era.