CLOUD WALTZING
US, 1987, 103 minutes, Colour.
Kathleen Beller, Francois- Eric Gendron.
Directed by Gordon Flemyng.
Cloud Waltzing is one of the series of Harlequin Romances made by Yorkshire television. They take a popular story ("Woman's Story") which brings an American heroine to Europe, usually to someone titled or very wealthy, In this case it is a wealthy young American woman who is a financial journalist who comes to interview one of the up and coming entrepreneurs of the French wine market. They clash, they fall in love, she has to assert her independence from her father. While the material is usually predictable, it is supported by a strong cast as well as by attractive European locations.
The Cloud Waltzing refers to the hero's enthusiasm for flying in balloons - used as a symbol for romance. The films are easy entertainment - even if they sometimes strain credibility.
1. Entertaining Harlequin romance? The formula of the American heroine, the European wealthy man? Attractive locations? Affluent settings?
2. America, the contrast with the beautiful countryside of France? Mansions and Chateaux? The musical score?
3. The title, ballooning, symbol for the romance?
4. Meredith Tolover, background, clashes with her father, the death of her mother and twin brother, anorexia nervosa, in the institution? Cured? Her decision to fly? Her decision to interview Jean Francois? Not telling her father? The plane flight, arrival, taxi, being late, Monique's hostility, seeing Jean Francois and mistaking him for the mechanic? Settling into the hotel, the friendship with the American? Getting an interview, with Jean Francois? Her liking him, clashes with him? Talking, meals, ballooning? Her physical and mental condition? The ball and her beautiful dress? The romantic atmosphere, staying with Jean Francois, the sexual encounter? Her own anxiety? His understanding her? The shared experiences, the crash? Her father's arrival? Her finishing the article, her father's growing suspicions, with Jean Francois, the ultimatum about the article? Her becoming independent, seeing him as he was, their future together?
5. Jean Francois, the suave Frenchman, financial reputation, punctuality? The American deals? The encounter Meredith, not telling her truth, the interview? His explanation of his work? Inviting her to the reception, anxiously waiting for her, falling in love? The sexual encounter? His French attitudes, offhand - but changing? Taking her to see his wife at the asylum? His sympathetic understanding her illness, helping her, ballooning, the meals? The accident? Looking after her? The confrontation with her father? letting the article through, proposing?
6. The American at the hotel, friendship, advice, the relationship with Monique? At the reception? Monique, hostility to Meredith? The affair?
7. Mr Tolover, his arrogance, financial expertise, the death of his son and wife, his controlling Meredith's life? Putting down her self-worth? Coming to France, confronting Jean Francois, confronting Meredith? His being asked to back away?
8. Popular ingredients of self assertion, falling in love, romance, futures?
