LOVE ON THE GRASS

France, 1977, 98 minutes, Colour.
Pascal Meynier, Ghislaine Dubos, Alix Mahieux, Bruno Raffaeli, Francoise Prevost.
Directed by Roger Andrieux.

This is the kind of film the French make very often. Taking as its hero a sixteen-year old schoolboy, it shows the way of life in middle-class suburban cities in France and the romantic liaison between this boy, still at school, and an attractive young shop assistant.

While the girl's mother in sympathetic, the parents of the boy receive strong critique as does his brother who sells himself out to commercialism. The film reflects the permissive attitudes of contemporary society but is also critical of the double values in people who are callous towards violence and hypocrisy and hypercritical of human relationships.

1. The title and its tone? The emphasis on love? reminder of such films as 'Splendor on the Grass'? A particularly French film? Content, style? Impact for a French audience, international audience?

2. Its contemporary look? The French city life, apartments, school, shops, squares, the speedway? The colour photography? The presentation of photography as part of the situations? Style, musical score?

3. How attractive a boy was Marc? Entering the film from his point of view? His getting up, seeing him at home, going to school? His skill at study, skill at Latin? The competition and his involvement in it? His friends, the encounter with Martine and his attraction towards her, work at the gym? His return to Martine and expressing his infatuation? The beginning of an affair? The innocence of their love and sharing? The building of the grass house? Letting go, the sexual culmination? The effect on Marc, his letting his study go, forgetting his gym? His mother's reaction, his father? The visit to his brother and his brother's helping him? The reaction of Martine's mother? Happiness as illustrated by the day at the speedway? His admiration for Jesse, his repugnance at his brother's photos and their publication?

4. The reaction of the parent generation? Their fears of pregnancy? Moral stands about pre-marital sex? Christiane and his permissive attitudes? The parents and their worry about school? The contrast with Martine's mother and her supporting her daughter? The anger of Marc's parents? The plan to run away?

5. The parents and their characters, seeing them at home, middle class attitudes and values? Their concern about Marc? Their reaction to Christiane and appreciation of his financial success with the photos without regard to the issues and death?

6. Christiane and his help of Marc, the card game, taking him home, discussions, taking him to the speedway? The sequence of his selling his photos and him selling himself? Marc's reaction? His growing support of his parents? The photography with Martine and his disillusioning Marc? Marc's anger and Christiane's deserving of this?

7. How attractive a girl was Martine? At home, her work, family? The love for Marc, their outings together at the speedway, at the house? The plan to go away? Her losing her job? The visit to Christiane and the photography? The letter and its being destroyed?

8. The disappointment for Marc and Martine? What future?

9. The basic values of French families - norms, values, standards, permissiveness, hypocrisy?

10. The presentation of young love? how realistic, romantic? Tenderness, authenticity? Questions about genuine love, ago? How much insight late emotions? Relationships?