UNE HISTOIRE SIMPLE (A SIMPLE STORY)

France, 1979, 110 minutes, Colour.
Romy Schneider, Bruno Cremer, Claude Brasseur.
Directed by Claude Sautet.

Une Histoire Simple (A Simple Story) is one of several romantic films by writer director Claude Sautet. Romy Schneider has featured in most of them. This is a star vehicle for her and she performs very well, a perceptive interpretation of a French middle aged woman facing her son growing up, getting older, love and commitment, a child and abortion or not? The film is a look at French life in Paris in the '70s - a cross-section of people who work in the clothing design field and who are friends. Their ordinary lives, the deeper issues of their lives are explored in their interactions. An excellent supporting cast brings these characters to life. The point of view is the contemporary secular world and people coping with pressures and with the search for values. The film takes very much the woman's point of view not only in the character of Marie, played by Romy Schneider, but also in several of the other women with whom she works who are all characterised strongly and perceived very well. An interesting as well as entertaining look at modern living.

1. The meaning and tone of the title, expectations? Was it in fact a simple story? The film as a vehicle for Romy Schneider? Her presence, style, interpretation of Marie? The film's strength with her?

2. The style of the film: The presentation of the French middle class, the French tone, atmosphere, personal and moral stances and point of view? The cross-section of characters. their work, seeing them at home, family life, friendships, love, sexual relationships, marriage, divorce? Themes of age, death? The use of colour photography and location sets for the film? Musical score? The glamorous aspects of the film? The humorous tone?

3. How realistic was the film in its presentation of characters? How realistic were incidents, situations, motivations? The romantic aspects of the incidents and motivation? Audiences identifying with such a glamorous star as Romy Schneider?

4. The quality of perception of people, incidents? The complexities in people's lives, the contradictions? Audiences being alerted to these complexities and contradictions?

5. The birth-abortion frame-work of the film? The impact of Marie's decision about the abortion, the consultation, the performing of the abortion, the aftermath? Her explanation of her motives in the letter to Serge? Her wanting the child to be a bond and then rejecting it when there was not bond? What was the child meant to represent? The contrast with her decision to keep the child at the end, the bond with Georges? Her having the child despite not living with him? The importance of children in the film - Francine's children, Martin and Marie's bringing him up? The final comment on her keeping the child and the child keeping her?

6. The portrait of Marie - Romy Schneider and her appearance, manner? Her age, the broken marriage with George? Martin and how and her interest in him, helping him? The breakdown of her relationship with Serge? Their interactions, fights? Her letting him go? Her skill at her work, the bonds with the women at work and their way of life? Cafe talk, outings, visits? The contact with Georges? Her questioning whether her life was purposeful or not? Her ability and inability to cope?

7. The portrait of Serge and his business, his going out on his own in work, his nervousness? His dependence on Marle, his drinking and fighting with her, the break? His taking up with Anna and the bond between the two? The portrait of Anna at work, her being married when she was young, her husband abandoning her, her husband's meeting her outside the school? Anna and her discussion of promiscuity and being paid? Francine and the contrast with the married woman, her dominance, her argument in the kitchen and her disapproval of Anna? Francine's dominance of her husband? Her work as member of the committee at work? These friends as forming the background to Marle's life? Her liking for these people, sharing experiences with them, her differences?

8. Georges and his broken marriage, his living with Laura and his dependence on the young girl? Renewing friendship with Marie? The occasion of her asking for Jerome 's job? The growing intimacy, the living out of an affair? Their capacity for talking, reminiscing about the past? Martin as a bond between the two? Marle’s disappointment with Georges about Jerome and his job? Her leaving him? Her meeting him at the funeral, their later discussion? Her not telling him about the child, his having no place in her life?

9. The portrait of Jerome and Gabrielle? Their bonds with Marie, her story about their helping her in the past? The strength of the friendship, Jerome's retrenchment, the dinner sequence and his attempted suicide, Marle’s presence of mind in helping Gabrielle with him, Jerome’s comments to her the next day? Her pleading for his job with Georges but keeping anonymous? Jerome’s failure and delays in his work? His being transferred to the archives? Gabrielle and her happiness? The home sequences but Jerome’s pensiveness, his death? Gabrielle and her reflections, the intimate sequences of discussion with Marie, her reflection on her life, the impotence of their marriage, the quality of their love? The permissiveness of affairs? Gabrielle's loneliness and her weeping and breakdown? Her decision to live with Marie and help bring up the child? The film's strong presentation of friendship?

10. The film's perception of women and their questions, problems , differences from men in approach to life? The film's sympathetic presentation of women? How feminist was the film?

11. Themes of love, marriage, age, death? Fidelity and infidelity? Purpose in life? The sadness of life and the necessity for continued coping?