Eden in summer | Conte d’automne / Autumn tale

7pm Meeting with the critic: “Cinema (di)vino” with Enrico Danesi at the White Room of the Santa Giulia Museum, Via dei Musei 81

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9:15 p.m.
Autumn Tale
by Eric Rohmer
France, 1998, 112 minutes, colour.

see also Italian. 

Magali is a winegrower from Drôme who has been widowed for five years. Her childhood friend Isabelle places an ad in a dating magazine, after which she meets Gérald three times before telling him she would like to introduce him to her friend Magali. Meanwhile, Rosine, Magali's son's girlfriend, arranges a meeting between her and her former philosophy teacher and lover, Étienne. During Isabelle's daughter's wedding party, the games intertwine and come to fruition. Nothing develops between Étienne (who prefers younger women) and Magali; however, a spark ignites between her and Gérald.

Come on Six moral tales a Comedies and proverbs, from Winter's Tale a Summer story, In Éric Rohmer's films, one thing remained unknown, almost taboo: age. How does one grow old in the land of Rohmer's dialectical youngsters? Until now, no one knew. But here it is. Autumn tale change your perspective. Now women in their forties suddenly have a right to citizenship; indeed, they earn their own star in the director's youthful universe. This is how one ages in Rohmer's films: just like everywhere else. But one ages well, one ages in an enjoyable way. One ages well because behind this new suspense of words and feelings there is a playful Pygmalion-like gallantry, which consists of having the two ladies act out the kind of intrigue that Rohmer usually reserves for young women. For Isabelle, the intriguing joke of seducing a stranger for the benefit of her friend does not end without a certain melancholy, as if it were the last time. Credit to the director for suggesting this with a single furtive shot. Magali incidentally declares: ’The harvest is over«. Perhaps, but even this year the New Rohmer It is intoxicating enough.

(Louis Guichard, Autumn Count, Télérama, 23 September 1998)

Wine pairing: Tosca Farm (Pontida, Bergamo)