Most of the reviews here describe this little film as "amazing," "beautiful," "charming," and let's not forget, the ridiculously overused "a masterpiece!" Sure, pal.
Plot In A Nutshell: A Parisian family takes a day trip to the countryside, where two horny youths slobber over the women and plan their seduction.
Yes, that is the plot, and this is the "masterpiece" (cough cough) most of the other reviewers here are describing. In truth the film starts out rather well. It is partially a comedy and there are several jokes here making fun of the city folk, the elderly woman's apparent cluelessness, etc. It's fine for a while, actually. Amazing? Well, no. But it's fine.
Then we get to the point in the film where the two horny youths execute their seduction plans, and this film goes south in a big way. One character is constantly touching and groping his target, the daughter in the family, and persists in this behavior despite her repeated rejections. Finally he gives up on this approach and flat out sexually assaults her. Oh yes, what a charming and beautiful film! A few of the other reviewers here have pointed out this problem in the narrative, and how it is portrayed, but most gloss over it as if it never happened, or don't seem bothered by this criminal behavior and label it 'charming.' Right.
Unsurprisingly for a Renoir film, the female character, after being assaulted, decides this is a good thing after all and goes with it. Director Jean Renoir used the same exact story sequence in his earlier "Boudu Saved From Drowning" in 1932. Apparently Renoir was a big fan of sexual assault.
To each his own. The story had some amusing moments and some decent cinematography, but it all goes to hell for me with the 'charming' rape scene and its laughable aftermath. Calling this film a masterpiece is an insult to other films that actually are that. Just stop it.
5/10. Would I watch again (Y/N)?: Nope.
BTW, this film had an 8.2 rating in 2010, now it's down to 7.5. Apparently people have begun to wise up a bit.
Plot In A Nutshell: A Parisian family takes a day trip to the countryside, where two horny youths slobber over the women and plan their seduction.
Yes, that is the plot, and this is the "masterpiece" (cough cough) most of the other reviewers here are describing. In truth the film starts out rather well. It is partially a comedy and there are several jokes here making fun of the city folk, the elderly woman's apparent cluelessness, etc. It's fine for a while, actually. Amazing? Well, no. But it's fine.
Then we get to the point in the film where the two horny youths execute their seduction plans, and this film goes south in a big way. One character is constantly touching and groping his target, the daughter in the family, and persists in this behavior despite her repeated rejections. Finally he gives up on this approach and flat out sexually assaults her. Oh yes, what a charming and beautiful film! A few of the other reviewers here have pointed out this problem in the narrative, and how it is portrayed, but most gloss over it as if it never happened, or don't seem bothered by this criminal behavior and label it 'charming.' Right.
Unsurprisingly for a Renoir film, the female character, after being assaulted, decides this is a good thing after all and goes with it. Director Jean Renoir used the same exact story sequence in his earlier "Boudu Saved From Drowning" in 1932. Apparently Renoir was a big fan of sexual assault.
To each his own. The story had some amusing moments and some decent cinematography, but it all goes to hell for me with the 'charming' rape scene and its laughable aftermath. Calling this film a masterpiece is an insult to other films that actually are that. Just stop it.
5/10. Would I watch again (Y/N)?: Nope.
BTW, this film had an 8.2 rating in 2010, now it's down to 7.5. Apparently people have begun to wise up a bit.