FRENCH LESSON/ THE FROG PRINCE
UK, 1986, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jane Snowden, Alexandre Sterling, Diana Blackburn.
Directed by Brian Gilbert.
French Lesson is a small British drama, one of the series First Love, with David Putman as executive producer. Others in the series included Experience Preferred but Not Essential, and P'tang Yang Kipperbang. This film has a 60s setting, Paris locations, a young exchange student and her studies as well as wanting a romance. She encounters a young Frenchman, grows in friendship, has a sexual liaison with him. There are also the reactions of fellow students as well as the household in which she lives. While the material is very conventional, the film is well acted, dramatising the experience of Jenny the young English girl.
1. A first love story? 60s? Young English girl abroad? her wanting romance? Finding it? The consequences for her life?
2. The atmosphere of the 60s? Paris and French settings? Musical score?
3. The title and its implications? Jenny and her studies, her experience, her life?
4. Jenny and her background, travelling to Paris, meeting the family, boarding with them, fitting into their way of life, relating with the various members? Her studies? Her English friends? Her discussions about France, about falling in love, having affairs? The rules in the household, her staying out with a friend? Didier and his visit, taking Jenny in the car, his sexual advance? The family finding the item in the car and assuming it was Jenny’s? Blaming her, criticising her? Her friendship with Nils but not falling in love with him? The encounter with John Philip, out with him, his advances, her resistance? Getting to know each other? The night together and using Nil's room? Jenny leaving and walking into her future?
5. The picture of the family, their way of life in its detail, strict rules, family relationships? Jenny as a guest? Some suspicions? Didier and Yvette? The family turning against Jenny? Her not telling them the truth?
6. Nils and the study, friendship, allowing Jenny to use his room? The meeting with John Philip?
7. John Philip, his background, French charm, meeting Jenny, their friendship, going out, his advances, the decision to spend the night together? The aftermath?
8. Jenny's English friends, their presence in France, studies, romance, social life? Interactions with Jenny?
9. Didier and his advances, the stereotype Frenchman? His relationship with Yvette? The other girls? His not taking the blame for the accusations against Jenny?
10. Themes of relationships, love, sexuality? In the perspective of the 60s? Later?
