LE CAVALEUR
France, 1978, 100 minutes, Colour.
Jean Rochefort, Annie Girardot, Nicole Garcia.
Directed by Philippe de Broca.
Le Cavaleur is an interesting, entertaining, well made film about mid-life crisis. The film focuses on a very talented musician who is a selfish human being. He searches for the Eternal Woman. He sees himself as the great seducer - but lives in the past, almost ruins his life by imagining himself still young. In the central role, Jean Rochefort (who was the central actor in the Pardon Mon Affaire films) is excellent.
There is a very good group of French actresses in support, including Danielle Darrieux. The film was written and directed by Philippe de Broca. De Broca has made a lot of whimsical comedy adventures, especially those with Jean Paul Belmondo. In the late '70s he moved to films focusing on middle age and starring such actors as Philippe Noiret (the Dear Inspector films).
1. The work of Philippe de Broca? His comedies? Farcical action adventures? The change of focus from athletic hero to middle aged man in crisis? The change of pace?
2. French comedies and their appeal? Pictures of society, individuals within society? The 'Gallic touches'? Moral situations, perspectives? Humour? Solutions?
3. The focus on mid-life crisis? The hero rogue? The portrait of men and women? Roles? Stereotypes? Men and women and relationships, love, victims? Willing and unwilling victims?
4. The focus on Edouard? Jean Rochefort's presence, style, comic timing? melancholic appearance? Credible ladies' man, musical genius? The importance of music in his life? His life compared with various musical compositions? The performance of such compositions? His skill with his music, the recordings, tantrums? His hack work? His concerts? Need for a new direction? The devotion of his secretary - and her exasperation? Working with him for so long? The infatuation with Murielle? The plans for the ski trip? mix-ups? His love for his wife - taking her for granted, a basic fidelity to her? His dependence on his ex-wife Lucienne? His encounter with Suzanne and the memories of the past? His infatuation with Valentine? His devotion to his daughter? The emotional tangles? Playing one woman off against the other? Holidays with his wife? Trying to advise his daughter? The plans for Murielle? The decision to go away with Valentine? Ability to manage? Inability to cope? Phone calls, lies? His eventually being abandoned and having to face his life?
5. Marie-France? and her love for her husband? The background of their marriage and liaison, divorce? Home life and her suspicions? Children? The hoping for a good holiday? The holiday, the fishing? The lies? Leaving in the middle of the night? Her exasperation? Her love for Edouard, infatuation for him?
6. The comparison with Lucienne? The background of their marriage? Divorce? Edouard's interrupting her in the middle of the night for music? His cavalier manner with her husband? The holiday home and the visit? Clashes? His love for his daughter, fatherly feelings, trying to give advice? His moralising tone? His getting advice from Lucienne?
7. Murielle and the farce at the railway station, the snow plans? His opportunism? The visit to the chateau? Her being left on the train? Her work in the nightclub?
8. Suzanne and the chance encounter, the memories, the war? The mood of the evening? Edouard's memories, leaving? The contrast with her granddaughter? The nude bathing? His infatuation? Reliving the experience with her grandmother? The reality and unreality of the plans to elope? The plans for San Francisco? The decision not to go? The symbol of the mid-life crisis?
9. His secretary, the phone calls, the plans for the Russians and entertaining them, the files, the bookings for concerts?
10. Edouard and the details of his daily life, friends? Drinks, going to the country, the hiding away from everybody? The support of his friend in the country, training his bog with the piano? The recital? The possibility of his being creative with the boy? His work in the shop? His need to move away to reassess himself?
11. The family reunion? His daughter? Her love? Her going to Amsterdam and returning? The wedding photo? The possibility of starting again?
12. The melancholic tone of the farce? Presuppositions about marriage, fidelity? Roles of men and women? Behaviour? Morality? Regrets? Middle age and growing in wisdom?
