ANTOINETTE IN THE CERVENNES
France, 2020, 96 minutes, Colour.
Laure Calamy, Benjamin Lavernhe, Olivia Cote.
Directed by Caroline Vignal.
One of those brief Gallic celebrations of l’Amour, blending the fluffy, the cute, the romantic.
It comes as something of a surprise to find that it is indebted to the story of Robert Louis Stevenson, his love for the American divorcee, Fanny Osborne, his disappointment in her disappearance to America and his riding a donkey on a trip into the Cervennes.
In fact, the donkey is central to this film, along with Antoinette. And the donkey, has Irish background, is called Patrick. (One has never heard the French pronunciation of Patrick called out so frequently in any other film!).
And, who is Antoinette, played with exuberance by Laure Calamy? She is a primary school teacher, seen changing into an evening dress, leading her class on stage to sing for the parents (a rather eyebrow-raising sexual song for such an occasion). She smiles at one of the parents, and he acknowledges her – and, within minutes, we realise that they are in a sexual relationship. Antoinette is young and passionate. Vladimir is something of a serial womaniser.
And why the Cervennes? Vladimir backs off from a week with Antoinette, telling her that he and his wife and daughter are booked to go on a hiking trip in the mountains. Impulsively, overnight, she books in, turns up at the Lodge, tells her story rather quickly to the gathered guests who seem to take this kind of liaison for granted, are curious, make their comments, and return to their concern throughout the week of hiking.
Quite inexperienced in hiking, Antoinette has booked a donkey – the aforesaid Patrick. He makes quite an impact on Antoinette, of course, pushing, pulling, cajoling, and her eventually falling in love with him. And, we are focused on Patrick, enjoying his obstinacy, enjoying his accompanying Antoinette, always pleased to see him.
Needless to say, there is an encounter between Antoinette and Vladimir – and his wife. Some tense moments, some truth is told, a lot of dismay for Antoinette. And a sprained ankle when Patrick goes racing off, dragging Antoinette behind him.
Which means that Antoinette has both a broken heart and a sprained ankle. Of course, she is young and resilient, and even postpones the train back to Paris when she wants to say farewell to Patrick and finds that he is already tracking with a genial young man. He asks Antoinette to accompany him so that he can get used to Patrick… Of course!
1. A French romantic entertainment? Light?
2. The reference to Robert Louis Stevenson, his story and Fanny Osborne, his travels in the Cervennes, Travels with a Donkey in this event?
3. The city opening, Paris, the school, the performance for the parents? The rendezvous between Antoinette and Vladimir? The transition to the Cervennes, the towns, the countryside, the mountains, accommodation, restaurants? The musical score?
4. Antoinette’s story, changing into the dress in the classroom, leading the children, the performance and the mature adult song? The parents? The relationship with Vladimir? Married? His change of plans? The decision, going to the mountains? Desperation? The booking, meeting the other hikers, the conversation, telling her story, their continued interest and support? The choice of Patrick as a donkey? The comedy with Patrick, pushing, pulling, cajoling? The gradual bond between the two? Her doing the hiking? The encounter with Vladimir and his family? The accommodation at night, the discussions with his wife, going out on the sexual encounter? The comments by the travellers? The walk, the discussions with Vladimir’s wife, her knowing the truth? Patrick racing off, dragging Antoinette, the sprain? The vet tending her? Wanting to go home, the break with Vladimir, going to farewell Patrick, the young man on the hike, her accompanying him? The effect of the journey on her?
5. Vladimir, with his daughter, the performance, the rendezvous, the plans, on the hike, the sexual encounter in the countryside? His wife, her knowing the truth, her confronting Antoinette?
6. The other members of the company, the men, the women, the questions, the gossip, the French and l’Amour?
7. A piece of Gallic fluff?
