THE POCKET LOVER, (L'AMANT DE POCHE) (LOVER BOY)

France, 1977, 94 minutes, Colour.
Mimsy Farmer, Pascal Sellier, Andrea Ferreol, Stephane Jobert, Bernard Fresson, Serge Sauvion, Madeleine Robinson.
Directed by Bernard Queysanne.

The Pocket Lover is a French romantic comedy. It is very similar to so many romantic films made in the '70s, highlighting the hero, the strange heroine, the strange love affair. French society is sketched in as background. This is also the perennial story of the young innocent, at school, and his encounter with the high class prostitute and learning the ways of life. American actress Mimsy Farmer is the prostitute ? she has been seen more in Continental films than in American films e.g. The Taviani Brothers' Allonsfansan and The Road to Selena. There is a certain worldly-wise, sophisticated, amoral lover.

1. The appeal of this kind of French romantic comedy - with the bitter touch? The themes of innocence and experience? The sophisticated worldly wise atmosphere? Disillusionment?

2. Colour photography, the atmosphere of Paris, the atmosphere of the late seventies? School, home? Country houses? The work of the wealthy call girl? Weekends in Tunisia, etc.? musical score?

3. The plausibility of the plot: the old stories of the young man being inducted into sex by the worldly wise woman? sexual education and manhood? The particularly European and French tone of the theme?

4. The portrayal of Julien: shy, work at school, clever? His relationship with Capo, the rest of the boys in his group? The picking up of Helen? The irony of Helen's attraction towards Julien? His naivety? The outings, the buying of the clothes, the restaurant? His explanation to his father, the reactions of his mother? Listening to the tapes and erasing the information? The weekend in Tunisia and his thinking himself a man? His wrong assumptions about Helen and the fighting with Gisbert? His discovery of the truth about her and his condemnation of her as a whore? The country weekend? The lyric tenderness and her leaving him? His father bringing him home? The blend of dream and fantasy? An adolescent view of the world sexuality?

5. the portrayal of Helen - American, wealthy, her voice on response to clients? Appearance, erratic behaviour? The range of clients? Gisbert and his political influence, television interview, clash with Julien? Helen's visa? Her relationship with the Madam and the weekend in Tunisia? The outings with Julien and pampering him? The sexual relationship? Her flaunting herself in the cafe? Her decision to leave him? Her own life and insecurities?

6. The sketch of Julien's parents ? the way they brought him up, home life, their own relationship, their tolerance? Attitude towards Helen? To Martine? The father and his helping his son through the situation?

7. The sketch of Capo and Martine, schoolboys and schoolgirls, friendships, jealousies, crushes?

8. The sketching in of the Madam and her influence on Helen, her toughs? Gisbert and his reliance on Helen, liaison? The world of the international jet setters?

9. The blend of the city sophistication with lyrical romanticism? The impact on the audience and their response to the characters and themes? The basic theme of adolescence, manhood, sexuality, dreams, women? How satisfyingly handled?