Pauline at the Beach (3½ Stars)

The truth hurts a few, but lies hurt everyone.

See my general thoughts about Eric Rohmer's films in my review of My Girlfriend's Boyfriend. This film is a double love triangle, much more complex than it looks on the surface, featuring opposite pairs from three age groups.

Pauline and Sylvain are 15.
Marion and Pierre are in their mid 20's.
Louisette and Henri are in their mid 30's.

France in the early 1970's. Pauline is on holiday with her older cousin Marion who is in the process of divorcing her husband. On the beach they meet Pierre, an old friend of Marion's who has loved her since before she was married. Marion falls in love with Henri and begins an affair with him. She tries to encourage Pierre to take Pauline's virginity, but Pauline is more interested in Sylvain, a boy her own age. When Pierre finds Henri at home with Louisette, a slutty beach saleswoman, Henri convinces Pierre that Sylvain is having sex with Louisette. After Pauline has broken up with Sylvain, Henri confesses to her that Marion is too perfect for him to love, he much prefers Louisette. The next morning he makes a clumsy attempt to seduce Pauline. Interestingly, the conversations show that young Sylvain admires Henri's womanizing.

Eric Rohmer says that he needed 30 years to write this film, which may not be apparent from the minimalist result. The story has a clear beginning, but no real ending. The characters drift apart as casually as they met. Rohmer defies all rules of good film-making. There are no character arcs. Nothing has changed. Pauline is still a virgin. Louisette is still a slut. Marion is still looking for love. Henri still lives to conquer women. Pierre is still lonely. Sylvain is still growing up to be like Henri. Think of this film as a voyeuristic window into a few days in the lives of six people.